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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: June 16,
2003
Mediator’s ruling ends labour
dispute
The Pas, MB – Mediator Vince Ready’s final,
binding recommendation to end the labour dispute at Tolko’s
sawmill in The Pas, Manitoba is being met with mixed reactions by
the Company.
Rob Layton, Tolko’s General Manager, Prairie
Region, says that while the Company is pleased that the recommendations
have been issued, they are disappointed that the Company’s
request for minor flexibility changes were not addressed. “We
are also concerned about the cost to the Company of the retroactive
wage increases. Our sawmill operation in The Pas has experienced
significant losses over the past few years and adding more cost
to the operation will create even more hardship. Although we had
jurisdictional concerns with the recommendation of a lump sum payment
to the Northern Wood Haulers’ Association, we have decided
to implement the entire decision.
Rob went on to say that the Company is pleased with
the term of the new collective agreement. “I’m encouraged
that we have three and one-half years to work toward achieving full
potential in the sawmill and normalized industrial relations.
Rob concluded, “We recognize that a binding
recommendation by an arbitrator will never satisfy all the needs
of both parties. However, we are hopeful that we can put aside our
past differences and work together to achieve our mutual long-term
objectives.”
For more information:
Dave Neufeld
Woodlands Manager
Phone: 204-623-8541
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