The three-year offer will see loggers receive wage increases of 2% effective from June 15, with a further 3% increase from June 15, 2008 and a third rise in 2009 that will match the general wage settlement agreed between USW and Interior Forest Labour Relations.
FIR is also offering BC loggers an annual Return on Capital Employed payment, a bigger say in shift scheduling, improved health and safety provisions, more provision for parental and family leave and apprentice opportunities.
“We worked hard to put together an offer that includes improvements for employees,” said Terry Lineker, president and chief executive officer of FIR.
“But now we have stopped negotiating because we have gone as far as we are willing to go.”
Contract talks have been on-going since March, although they appeared to have reached an impasse last week when USW issued a 72-hour strike notice on loggers working for the 31 companies represented by FIR.
