An arbitrator has dismissed a grievance by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 956, which alleged that Domtar violated minimum staffing provisions of its collective agreement after idling a pulp and paper mill in Espanola, Ontario. The ruling found that the agreement did not contain a minimum staffing requirement mandating two electricians on every shift. The dispute arose after Domtar, facing financial difficulties and requiring significant capital investment, idled its operations, leading to layoffs affecting 95% of the workforce. The union argued that Article 38 of the collective agreement required a minimum of two first-class electricians on-site at all times and that the employer had failed to adhere to this provision. The employer countered that Article 38 was not a true minimum staffing clause but part of a broader trades flexibility model. …Ultimately, the arbitrator ruled in favour of Domtar, concluding that the grievance failed to establish a violation of the collective agreement, OHSA regulations, or employer policies.