Details of the contract settlements in Chetwynd

A few more details of the labour contracts in Chetwynd are now public.

Canfor and Tembec are both planning to restart their mills in Chetwynd, British Colubmia soon following successful contract negotiations with their workers.

The Steelworkers union in Canfor's mill have agreed to reductions of about $5.40 per hour (about 20%). Canfor plans to restart its mill later in the spring, and intends to make about $16 million in mill upgrades.

Canfor's contract has a provision for wage increases if both the lumber market and the mill's financial performance improves. The trigger point appears to be $275US for lumber, after which - if the mill is making money - workers may gain up to 5 per cent more pay if lumber markets further improve.

Tembec's five-year contract calls for wage increases of one per cent in year three, and two per cent in each of years four and five. Tembec plans to reopen their mill in January.

Source:

Canfor, Tembec plan mill start-ups (Clearwater Times)