Talks have broken off between Unifor members and Domtar in Dryden.
The union has applied for conciliation.
Local National Representative Stephen Boon says they have been bargaining for a new deal over the last two months, but the negotiations have now reached an impasse over some unanticipated hurdles at the local level.
He says, “We will make a final attempt to bridge the remaining gaps and also implement Unifor’s Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern with Domtar through the conciliation process.”
However, Boon says if conciliated talks fail and an agreement is not in place, they will be moving ahead with membership strike votes in preparation for a potential strike in early 2023.
The last agreement for Locals 105 and 324 expired on August 31.
Unifor is representing 225 production, maintenance, and office members as well as another 225 woodlands harvesting, chipping and trucking members.
Unifor secured a new deal for over 150 mill workers at the Ear Falls Sawmill, which brought wage increases of between 24 and 36 per cent, a 25 per cent increase in pension contributions and many more benefits for staff.
