Features Mills Sawmilling
Unifor targets Resolute for talks

Feb. 10, 2014 – Unifor, the largest private-sector union, has said it will seek to regain concessions lost during the recession when it meets with the Resolute Forest Products next month. The negotiations with Resolute will establish a pattern agreement for around 10,000 union members in the forestry sector in the eastern part of Canada.

Jerry Dias, Unifor's national president, told the Canadian Press that it is time that we have a discussion in Canada about how we use our natural resources to put young people to work. He said the union is focused on making economic improvements, job benefits and security enhancements.

When Resolute, formerly known as AbitibiBowater, went though the restructuring process, employees gave up a 10 per cent wage cut and made changes to their benefits and pensions. Dias told the press he would ask companies to acknowledge the sacrifices employees made during the downturn.

For more information, go to http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/the-canadian-press/140207/unifor-targets-resolute-forest-products-set-pattern-contract

February 10, 2014  By  Amie Silverwood