USW Local 665 in Terrace Bay, Ont., have ratified a new four-year contract, retroactive to May 1, 2022.
The 270 Steelworkers work at AV Terrace Bay, where they manufacture Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft pulp (NBSK). The pulp is then sent to manufacturers in the United States to make paper towel, bathroom tissue, diapers and other paper-based retail products.
The union’s new agreement sees a 19.5% wage increase for members working in operations and 23.6% for members in ticketed trades and power engineers, over the life of the contract. Overtime rates and the company’s contribution to the pension plan also are being increased.
The local union’s preparations for negotiations began before it exchanged proposals with the employer. A bargaining survey was sent to the membership and the input of members guided the bargaining committee’s formulation of its proposals. The committee also performed an extensive review of other comparable collective agreements and a thorough review of the local’s existing contract in order to get a better sense of where to prioritize its proposals.
“Our local union came to the bargaining table equipped with the tools we needed to succeed. We participated in a bargaining preparation course, we did our research, and more importantly, we listened to our members on what was important to them,” said USW Local 665 President Seppo Vataja.
Other contract highlights included increases in vision care and dental benefits, improved job security language and a streamlined job posting procedure.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
BURNABY, B.C. – The United Steelworkers union (USW) welcomes the BC NDP’s commitments to support forestry workers and communities through new investments to keep mills operating, protect jobs and strengthen B.C.’s forestry sector. The union says the plan is a positive step toward addressing the challenges facing the industry. The BC NDP’s proposed $120-million Forestry […]
Alberta’s future is on the ballot and Steelworkers have a choice to make. We need solutions, not scapegoats. Leadership, not chaos. Our focus should be on strengthening health care, making life more affordable, protecting good jobs and building a better future for working families. That’s why the United Steelworkers union is encouraging members across Alberta […]
Local elections and their advance voting are underway across B.C. and for Steelworkers, the people who get elected in our communities matters, deeply. In the resource communities where thousands of our members live and work, municipal governments make decisions that affect our jobs, families and communities. Strong local leaders can be our champions for forestry, mining […]