Federated Co-op workers in Canoe, British Columbia, approve new labor contract; United Steelworkers union commends 'fair solution' of C$1M in severance for sawmill workers laid off four years ago
Wendy Lisney
LOS ANGELES
,
October 7, 2011
(Forestweb)
–
Unionized workers at Federated Co-operatives Ltd.'s sawmill and plywood plant in Canoe, British Columbia, have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new contract, CFJC TV reported on Oct. 6.
The sawmill has not been in operation for four years, but the plywood mill is still in production.
Marty Gibbons, president of United Steelworkers Local 1-417, said the deal followed the industry pattern deal, but included the additional benefits of significant retroactive pay. The agreement also includes a C$500 signing bonus, which will be repeated in 2013.
Gibbons said plywood workers had shown support for their laid off sawmill colleagues, and described the deal as a fair solution. He also commended Federated Co-op for working with the union to find a compromise.
Under the agreement, partial closure severance of almost a million dollars will be paid to former sawmill employees. Gibbons said he hoped the money would help provide closure and allow former sawmill employees to move on with their lives.
The primary source of this article is CFJC TV, Kamloops, British Columbia, on Oct. 6, 2011.
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