One of Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 biggest timber firms and its largest forestry union have struck a deal they hope can restart Mosaic Forest Management operations throughout the Island.

United Steelworkers (USW, Local 1-1937) and Mosaic Forest Management have reached agreements-in-principle designed to bring increased collaboration, flexibility and certainty for workers and Mosaic across its South Island and Northwest Bay operations.

The union and company jointly announced on May 12 the pending unionization of MosaicB次元官网网址檚 two shipping facilities at Island Terminals (Duke Point) and South Island Logistics facility (Crofton), and a renewed collective agreement at the Nanoose-based Northwest Bay Operation that will run from 2020 to 2025.

The agreements will allow Mosaic the flexibility to move contractors, equipment and logs across the companyB次元官网网址檚 South Island operations (from Sooke in the south to Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni on central Vancouver Island.

With the agreements, USW 1-1937 is also asking for B次元官网网址渢emporary reliefB次元官网网址� on federal log export policy for private land, said Brian Butler, president of USW 1-1937.

B次元官网网址淲orking together with Mosaic on unionizing the shipping facilities also reflects our collective desire for policies that support access to both international and domestic log markets,B次元官网网址� Butler said, adding that allowing log exports for private landowners will B次元官网网址渒ickstart the Coastal forest sector.B次元官网网址�

Both Butler and Mosaic president and CEO Jeff Zweig touted stability for workers as another positive to ratifying the agreements.

B次元官网网址淭his agreement will certainly help to create the conditions for Mosaic to restart production,B次元官网网址� Zweig added.

The coastal forestry industry was already in the midst of an eight-month strike with Western Forest Products when Mosaic announced in late November 2019 an early winter shutdown that impacted a further 2,000 forestry workers across coastal B.C. That curtailment was extended on March 10, 2020.

B次元官网网址淧oor market conditions have persisted longer than anticipated and have been exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus on global supply chains,B次元官网网址� Mosaic president and CEO Jeff Zweig said in a statement.

Union members must still ratify the agreement-in-principle with Mosaic.

B次元官网网址淭hese are tough times and we have heard our members loud and clear. We have worked extremely hard with Mosaic to deliver a set of mutually beneficial changes to respond to our membersB次元官网网址� needs and address legacy issues, all of which are subject to ratification by our members,B次元官网网址� said Richard Arnason, second vice-president of USW Local 1-1937.