Unifor Local 10-B members at Kruger's Kamloops mill have ratified a new four-year collective agreement with a resounding 91% approval, setting a crucial precedent for Western Canadian pulp and paper workers.
The agreement, hailed as a "pattern-setting" deal, covers 245 Unifor members and includes significant wage improvements, a skilled trades adjustment, and enhanced benefits, all achieved without concessions.
"There's a whole-union approach at work here to deliver for forestry members," said Unifor National President Lana Payne, emphasizing the union's broader "Fight for Forestry Jobs" campaign.
The agreement serves as a benchmark for negotiations across the Western Pulp and Paper Caucus, which includes 5,500 members from 13 Unifor and five Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) local unions in British Columbia and Alberta.
PPWC President Geoff Dawe echoed Payne's sentiments, stating, "We’re proud to deliver a strong pattern-setting agreement for members of both Unifor and PPWC."
The two unions, Unifor and PPWC, Canada's largest forestry unions, have a history of collaborating to improve standards for forestry workers in the region. Kruger Kamloops was selected as the target for pattern bargaining in December 2024.
This successful ratification comes at a challenging time for the forestry sector, but it also signals an opportunity to build a stronger future for workers, according to both unions.
Located in Kamloops, B.C., the mill was acquired by Kruger in June 2022 and specializes in producing northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) and unbleached softwood kraft pulp. Kruger has committed to maintaining the mill's operations and jobs while investing in modernization and innovation, including a recent $32 million investment to enhance its production capabilities and environmental footprint. The facility plays a significant role in the local economy and is supported by both provincial and federal initiatives to ensure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the forestry sector.
