United Steelworkers (USW) members employed by Interior Forest Labour Relations Association (IFLRA) member companies in the B.C. southern interior have ratified a five-year collective agreement.

Members in USW Locals 1-405 Cranbrook, 1-417 Kamloops and 1-423 Kelowna have voted in favour of the November 29 agreement by a 66% majority.

The five-year agreement provides significant pay enhancements for tradesman who will enjoy a 23% wage increase over the term of the agreement. The deal has great news for members in apprenticeships where living out allowances for all apprentices will be doubled to $40 a day/$280 a week, mileage to be doubled to 50¢ a kilometre to attend school, and those attending school outside their community for more than six weeks will qualify for a second round trip.

The new deal also contains wage increases of 13% and $3,400 cash payments over the term of the agreement. The deal also brings improvements to health and welfare benefits which include lifetime limits for EHB that increase from $60,000 to $300,000 over the term agreement, Plan C orthodontic coverage increases to a maximum $4,000 with ‘white fillings’ now covered, and vision care now includes laser eye surgery and eye exams limits increase to $400 in a 24 month period.

With better language that ensures employee’s rights are not compromised relative to the use of chargehands, a 50¢ per hour ticket premium for log scalers, carpenter’s rate that rises to meet the level of other tradesman, and a two level increases for all forestry and engineering technicians, this deal will provide some comfort to union members for the next five years.

The BC Interior Bargaining Committee will bring the pattern deal to the northern interior when they continue negotiations in the New Year with West Fraser and of the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations (Conifer).

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