By Cheryl Jahn

Tentative forestry deal

Feb 26, 2019 | 4:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Could there be peace on the labour front in forestry?

A tentative deal has been reached between the Steelworkers Union, Local 2-2017 and CONIFER, which is a collection of lumber companies in Northern BC.

The last agreement expired on June 30, 2018, and negotiations have been largely unsuccessful until a tentative agreement was reached in mid-February.

The proposed five-year includes wage increases of 2% in the first four years, retroactive to July 1, 2018,  and 2.5% in the final year.

The sawmilling operations under the umbrella of CONIFER include: Isle Pierre, Canfor in Fort St. John and Houston, PG Sawmill, Conifex mills in Fort St. James and Mackenzie, Tolko’s Lakeview, Soda Creek and Questwood operations, Babine, Dunkley Lumber, Wester Fraser’s Williams Lake planer mill and Lakeland Mills.

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The new deal still needs to be ratified by the membership.