BARWICK, Ontario – Unifor Local 324-99, comprising 150 members, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new collective agreement with West Fraser Timber covering its Barwick oriented strand board (OSB) mill near Fort Frances. The four-year agreement, which is retroactive to August 1, 2022, provides for a 23% average wage increase over the term with top production rates of pay reaching $43.79/hour and top trades pay reaching $51.60/hour, making it one of the largest wage increases in the forest industry in almost 40 years. Katrina Peterson, Unifor Local 324 President, hailed the agreement as a solid, long-term deal that achieves some of the largest wage increases ever negotiated at this mill. Other key monetary and language improvements include $5,000 in lump sum payments, an increased $500 annual health spending account, and $250 annual boot allowance. The new contract is retro-active to August 1, 2022 and remains in place until July 31, 2026.