The union representing workers at 13 northern B.C. sawmills is recommending they accept a tentative agreement with the operations' bargaining agent.

The agreement, "provides a fair wage increase to our membership," United Steelworkers Local 1-2017 says in an online posting.

article continues below

"It also provides significant improvements to benefits and contractual language."

As proposed, the five-year agreement calls for two-per-cent wage increases in each of the first four years and 2.5 per cent in the last year.

The first-year increase is retroactive to July 1, 2018. and there will be a $500 lump sum payment on ratification and a further $500 on July 1, 2020.

It also calls for an increase to the premiums for shift differential and first aid, a reduction to the long-term disability premium and an increase to the coverage provided by disability insurance.

"The Bargaining Committee was able to fend off disappointing concessions presented by the employer during this round of bargaining by the strong will of our membership with a strong strike vote and rotating job action," the union said.

However, it added the probationary period for new employees will go to 60 days in six months from the present 30 working days in 90. Eligible benefits will still begin after 30 in 90.

The tentative agreement with Council on Northern Interior Forest Employment Relations was reached on February 13.

The CONIFER group is a collection of companies that operate 13 operations across the region including: Canfor's Houston sawmill, Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake, the Conifex mills in Mackenzie and Fort St. James, Canfor's mill in Fort St. John, the West Fraser planer mill in Williams Lake, Tolko's Lakeview and Soda Creek mills in Williams Lake plus Quest Wood site in Quesnel.