In a news release issued Thursday (March 6), Unifor says Local 10-B members ratified the new collective agreement with 91 per cent approval. They say it includes improvements to wages and benefits, a Skilled Trades adjustment and zero concessions.

In December, both Unifor as well as the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) -- the two largest forestry unions in Canada -- said the Kamloops mill will set the standard for coordinated bargaining covering 5,500 members from 13 Unifor and five PPWC local unions in B.C. and Alberta.

"There's a whole-union approach at work here to deliver for forestry members as we fight back against unfair tariffs, work to develop a national industrial strategy, and negotiate strong collective agreements at the bargaining table," Unifor National President Lana Payne said in the news release.

"I congratulate the members of Unifor Local 10-B and our partners at PPWC for working together to secure this contract."

Added PPWC President Geoff Dawe, "It is a challenging time for Canada's forestry sector but one that also provides an opportunity for us to build a better and stronger future for forestry."

"We're proud to deliver a strong pattern-setting agreement for members of both Unifor and PPWC in the Western Pulp and Paper Caucus, starting with the Unifor members at Kruger Kamloops."

The new collective agreement covers 245 Unifor members at the pulp mill in Kamloops.