B.C. coastal forestry workers have landed a new collective agreement after the United Steelworkers (USW) and Forest Industrial Relations (FIR) – whose member companies employ some 400 USW members – struck a tentative four-year deal on Monday.
The agreement, which covers logging operators in USW Locals 1-1937 and 1-85, is retroactive to June 15 and is structured similar to a settlement reached by Western Forest Products Inc. (TSX:WEF) in August.
In that deal, WFP signed a four-year labour contract with the USW covering 2,400 Western Forest Products employees and contractors.
The deal between USW and FIR provides a 2% wage increase to workers in each of the third and fourth years, enhanced job security and benefit improvements.
As well, the deal includes new severance pay provisions to protect members during permanent partial closures and works to stabilize the long-term disability plan.
Employees will be meeting to vote on ratifying the deal in the coming months.