NetNewsLedger, Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada, reported this past week that talks between Domtar, Montreal, Qué., and Unifor, Toronto, Ont., have now broken down. The Unifor negotiations with Domtar covering more than 500 pulp mill and woodlands employees broke down the day before, January 22, in Dryden, Ont., Canada.

 

Unifor has now applied for conciliation for all 225 production, maintenance, and office members in Local 105 and for another 300 wood harvesting, chipping, and hauling members in Local 324.

 

"We have been bargaining for new mill and woodlands deals with Domtar since October, but unfortunately these negotiations have now hit an impasse." said Stephen Boon, a national representative for Unifor. "We will now attempt to find a way to bridge the gap and also implement the Eastern Canada Pulp and Paper Pattern with Domtar through the conciliation process prior to taking any potential strike action."

 

The last collective agreement for Unifor Local 105 and 324 expired on August 31, 2014.