MONTREAL — Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Resolute on a new collective agreement that will set the pattern for the industry in eastern Canada.
Both parties announced the deal Sunday.
It's a four-year agreement affecting most of the hourly employees in Resolute operations in Thunder Bay and at six mills in Quebec.
Remi Lalonde, president and CEO, said the agreement-in-principle "underscores the important contribution of our employees to the company's success, as well as the collaborative nature of the relationship between the two parties."
Details remain confidential until the union holds ratification votes among its members in the coming days.
Unifor spokesperson Renaud Gagné "We are confident we have reached the best possible agreement under the circumstances. It is now up to our members."
Results of the ratification vote are expected to be known on May 20.
If it's approved, the contract will cover 700 Unifor members at Resolute but will ultimately impact nearly 15,000 members at mills in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
The model contract for the eastern Canada paper industry includes the negotiation of all monetary items such as wages, benefits and pensions at a common table.
Once that's completed, the model serves as the basis for negotiation with all other employers in the industry.
