Today the United Steelworkers Local 1-324 Sawmill, and Woodland workers have ratified a new three year agreement with Tolko Industries retroactive to February 1st, 2009.

Included in the new agreement will be the gaining back of 10% of wages rolled back in 2006 to assist Tolko Manitoba Solid Woods in surviving. In addition there will be a two percent increase immediately, followed by a two percent wage increase in September of 2010. Also agreed to in this round of negotiations with Tolko are enhanced termination pay provisions, improved education cost coverage, and further safety language improvements.

We are enduring the most challenging forestry crisis in Canada’s history. It was always our goal to negotiate the best possible contract for our members while acknowledging the enormous challenges our sector faces.

We believe we accomplished that President Chris Parlow of USW Local 1-324 states.

“This is a bittersweet negotiated agreement due to many of our members, and families wanting to work producing lumber however no lumber has been produced since January 19th, 2009 resulting in two thirds of our members enduring a layoff. This is the longest layoff in this operations long history. We as a committee hope this agreement gets our members back to work sooner rather than later however we know there are no guarantees Parlow comments”.

Source: USW Press Release