FIRST AGREEMENT FOR A NEW UNIT!
LAY-OFF FOLLOWING A FIRE FOR ROCKSHIELD MEMBERS
Brothers and Sisters. I hope all of you enjoyed their summer. Since our last Union Echo, we have been busy in arbitration, dealing with grievances, and holding membership meetings.
Fauquier-Strickland Municipality Workers
On October 8th, 2024, we were successful in negotiating a new Collective Agreement for the workers working for the Municipality of Fauquier-Strickland. This new 4-year agreement offers stability and protection to the workers there. The agreement offers a 13% wage increase over the term of the agreement, benefits, a pension plan, 13 statutory holidays, 3 floaters, 5 sick days, and language on health and safety. Congratulations to the negotiating committee and the employees on their new Collective Agreement.
Moonbeam Municipal Workers
Negotiations with this new group of workers working for the Municipality of Moonbeam is still ongoing. On September 9th, 10th & 11th, 2024, the parties met in conciliation. Although there has been some movement on our demands, we still have many items outstanding that need to be addressed. We are scheduled to meet again on November 6th, 7th, and 8th, and we are hopeful that before the end of the year we can have a new Collective Agreement in place for these members.
Rockshield EWP
On August 9th, 2024, the Rockshield EWP plywood plant in Cochrane had a major fire at the mill. Luckily no one was injured and with the rapid response of the fire department and a local helicopter company, the fire was put out. But unfortunately, all the greenend section of the mill was destroyed. So, because of the fire, approximately 150 of our members working there were laid off. The company has informed the Local that they intend to rebuild the damaged area of the mill and have the mill back and running as soon as possible.
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays. Stay safe.
In Solidarity;
Eric Carroll
Health & Safety Report
On September 17th and 18th, 2024, 25 Health and Safety Co-Chairs from across the Local attended our annual Health and Safety Co-chair conference in Thunder Bay. During the September 17th morning session, the Co-chairs all received training on Documenting Health and Safety in the workplace from Brother Aaron Leiterman from the Workers Health and Safety Center. Later, as per our Bylaws, we had elections to elect the Local’s Safety Council Officers, and the Brothers and Sisters were elected as follows;
Chairperson – Sister April Johnson (Sister Johnson works for the Gateway Casino in Thunder Bay)
1st Vice-Chairperson – Brother Cody Swiergosz (Brother Swiergosz works at the Kirkland Lake Finger Joint Plant in Kirkland Lake)
2nd Vice-Chairperson – Brother Dany Aubin (Brother Aubin works for Lecours Lumber in the woodlands in Constance Lake)
3rd Vice-Chairperson – Brother Blair Decorte (Brother Decorte works for Dallan Fort William in Thunder Bay)
Recording-Secretary – Brother Marc-Antoine Brisson (Brother Brisson works for the Greenfirst Sawmill in Hearst)
Congratulations to the new elected Safety Council Officers.
On October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2024, Sister April Johnson, Brother Cody Swiergosz, Brother Guy Veilleux, and Brother Eric Carroll, attended the USW National Health, Safety, Environment, and Human Rights Conference (Justice 2024) in Gatineau Quebec. The conference was filled with great guest speakers and workshops. All 4 delegates enjoyed the conference.
Make Health and Safety your priority.
In Solidarity;Eric Carroll
Health & Safety Director
Health & Safety Meeting, September 17th & 18th, 2024
National Health & Safety Conference, October 2nd to 4th, 2024
Brother Cody Swiergosz and Sister April Johnson
Brother Eric Carroll, Brother Kevon Stewart (District 6 Director) and Brother Guy Veilleux
NEGOTIATIONS UPCOMING FOR GATEWAY CASINO
FORESTRY SECTOR ENDURING CHALLENGES
Hello Brothers and Sisters!
As usual busy times in the Local. I had the opportunity in the spring to travel with Brother Eric Caroll, 1st Vice-President/Business Agent to visit some of the sawmills he represents in Chapleau and Gogama. I also visited the Hearst Sawmill with brother Guy Veilleux, Financial-Secretary/Business Agent. I had the opportunity to meet with management from these sites and see how the operations were run. It was very interesting to see how these other companies function and understand some of the challenges they face. There have been dates set for the end of November for negotiations with Gateway Casino, which I am looking forward to. I was able to attend the Local’s annual H&S training that took place in Thunder Bay in September. The Local also had its annual stewards meeting held in Hearst in October. I had the opportunity to take some vacation this summer and spent that time enjoying the summer and spending time with friends and family.
Resolute Atikokan Sawmill
There has been a very high level of production at the Atikokan sawmill, attributed to recent efficiencies as well as staffing levels increasing. Ukrainian workers now comprise around 65% of the workforce, which has clearly helped in the level of production. Log inventories are high, and the mill is playing catch-up from the recent rail work stoppage. A lot of finished product is piling up and needing to be shipped out by rail. That process is ongoing and will hopefully get back to normal levels. The U.S. has recently increased its duty on softwood lumber imports from Canada, making margins even thinner for Canadian producers. Although the increase was expected to be 13.86% it actually rose to 14.54%. Since the summer edition of the bulletin, I have had several labour management meetings where concerns from the members were brought forward. I have membership meetings planned for October to update the members on what is happening in the Local as well as listen to any concerns from the members.
Resolute Ignace Sawmill
The Ignace sawmill has continued to produce well, even though staffing has at times been an issue. Those same issues are not different to other similar size sawmills. There will be a shutdown in October to complete their log-turner capital project. The shutdown will take place from October 12th to October 27th. Dave Sheppard is the new steward at the Ignace sawmill and has been given the Local’s new steward training in October, which was held in Hearst. Since the last issue of the bulletin, I have had a labour management meeting to bring forward any concerns from the members and I have a membership meeting planned for November to update them on what is going on in the Local as well as listen to any concerns.
Dallan Atikokan & Dallan Ignace
The Dallan operators outside the Atikokan and Ignace sawmills continue to meet the demand and high pace of production at the mills. There has been a labour management meeting for both operations with Dallan management and I have membership meetings planned for both sites in October and November.
Nakina Lumber Inc
The Nakina sawmill members are settling into their recently ratified Collective Agreement. The agreement saw increases across the board. Nakina Lumber is also facing the increased duties that other Canadian producers are faced with making it more challenging to operate. Staffing levels have been an ongoing issue, but the mill is doing its best to hire more workers. They recently began setting up an onsite camp to potentially house new workers from outside of the area. Brother Robert Scarbrough was recently nominated and has joined the Joint Health & Safety Committee. Brother Scarbrough brings years of experience in that role and will be a great addition to the committee. He has also been nominated and joined the grievance committee. Thank you for stepping up Robert!
Gateway Casino
Members of the Thunder Bay Gateway Casino recently came to the end of their 5-year Collective Agreement. A lot has happened in those 5 years and the members are looking forward to getting a fair deal with the company. There are dates set at the end of November to begin negotiations. Meetings to take demands from the members were held during the summer. The bargaining committee has been nominated and they are ready for the upcoming negotiations. Labour management meetings have taken place since our last issue of the bulletin. Brothers Savor and Ditomaso recently attended the Local’s annual stewards meeting where they received the Local’s new steward training.
With the upcoming holiday season approaching, I wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season, please drive to the conditions and please don’t drink and drive. Take care everyone!
In Solidarity;
Wesley Ridler
UNION JURISDICTION
AND THE NIPIGON FOREST
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to share the latest updates from our Union as we enter the winter of 2025.
Resolute Woodlands Operations
On the Resolute Woodlands side, membership has been growing steadily over the summer. In July, Goodwin and Sons Trucking, based out of Atikokan, signed on to help transport logs to area sawmills. They’ll be supporting operations like Koval, MultiTm, and New Gen Harvesting. Constant Trucking has also returned after a brief period working in other areas.
Meanwhile, the Union has been working on a couple of grievances regarding worksite jurisdiction and non-union harvesters. These issues are scheduled for hearings later this year, with the first one set for November 8th. It’s been a bit frustrating for the workers this summer, especially with non-union trucks showing up at the sawmills while union members faced curtailments and quota reductions. The Nipigon Forest has been supplying large amounts of wood to sawmills and pulp mills, using mostly non-union labor, which has been a sore spot. Our Local Union workforce has been providing fibre to these areas for many, many decades. “It’s a slap in the face”.
I can tell you that your Union is advocating vigorously to ensure we have the ability to move our residuals from the sawmills and woodland operations to their final destinations. We have been actively promoting the use of biomass in our Northern communities. Having biomass facilities throughout the North would benefit the industry, mining sectors, and rights holders alike. As you may be aware the “Shut down” of the Terrace Bay mill has had an impact on some of our sawmill operations. Storing fibre on site or delivering it to other areas of the province has been an adventure for the companies. Biomass facilities could be the answer for long term stability during market downturns.
While we do face industry challenges, I am hopeful that, in the long run, all woodlands operations from the Nipigon Forest to the Wabigoon Forest will be union jobs, offering prosperity and stability to all our members. This will help keep our Northern communities successful and flourishing, providing ongoing employment and strength for the region.
Another major challenge facing the forest industry is the growing shortage of skilled workers, particularly truck drivers, equipment operators, and mechanics. Recruitment efforts have become even more difficult, affecting all our mills and woodland operations. To address this, we must work closely with the government and industry leaders to make these essential, community-supporting jobs more appealing to the next generation. This collaboration is crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our workforce and the continued success of Northern communities.
Thunder Bay’s Dallan Operations
Over the last six months, the Dallan Operations in Thunder Bay have been busy, especially with mobile equipment services and trucking support for the area. The Fort William crew has expanded to the Keifer terminal, where they’ve been loading railcars for Resolute Forest Products. Dallan Trucking is also actively involved, with a dedicated team transporting finished lumber to the Keifer site.
Things haven’t been as smooth at the pulp mill, though. Back in May, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper directed the company to stop its grinding operations. This led to some layoffs and position changes, especially for the junior workers. The good news is that grinding started back up again in late September, even if it's labeled as "temporary." It’s expected to continue into the winter months, which will help keep things moving.
Join your Local Health and Safety Committee
We all want to come to work knowing that we’ll return home in the same condition. But that doesn’t just happen by chance – it takes effort, awareness, and teamwork. That’s why we need you on our Health and Safety Committee!
By joining the committee, you can:
• Make a real impact: Have a direct say in identifying and addressing workplace hazards and ensuring that your coworkers are protected.
• Learn valuable skills: Understand health and safety regulations, how to perform risk assessments, and best practices that will benefit you and others on the job.
• Advocate for your peers: You know your workplace better than anyone. Your insights can prevent accidents, improve conditions, and ensure management stays committed to safety.
• Build a culture of safety: When we all take part in promoting safe practices, it becomes second nature. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels confident and secure.
Your participation will be vital to ensuring our workplace remains a safe and healthy one for every member. Whether you’ve been at your workplace for years or are relatively new, your voice matters, and we need diverse perspectives to tackle the challenges we face.
If you're interested in becoming part of our Health and Safety Committee, or if you'd like more information on what the role entails, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your representative. Together, we can make a real difference in our workplace, protecting each other and building a safer future.
Unitized Manufacturing
On October 17th, 2024, members at the Unitized Manufacturing location ratified a new three-year deal. The agreement includes a 14 percent wage increase over the term, with the largest increase occurring in the first year. The new deal also comes with improvements in language benefits and pension, providing a solid boost for the workforce.
Wanson Lumber
Wanson Lumber continues to deliver top-notch service. The construction season, according to members, was very busy over the summer. With more construction projects expected in the Thunder Bay area, this uptick in activity will likely benefit the group moving forward.
Take care of each other. WORK SAFE! Happy Holidays to all our great members!
In Solidarity;
Jason Lacko
TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, MEETINGS
AND UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS