The key goal of the last round of collective bargaining between UNW/PSAC and Evergreen Forestry was to reach and maintain wage parity with firefighters at the GNWT.
As such, the parties agreed in bargaining that any general economic increase subsequently negotiated with the GNWT would be added to the wage grids at Evergreen, over and above the increases that were already negotiated to gradually bring Evergreen firefighters to wage parity with GNWT firefighters by 2023.
In May 2021, UNW/PSAC reached a deal with GNWT that provided for wage increases of 1.5% in 2021 and 1.5% in 2022 for GNWT employees.
Therefore, firefighters at Evergreen are entitled to retroactive pay of 1.5% for all hours worked in 2021, to be added to the wage grid, and a further 1.5% is supposed to be added to the wage grid of Evergreen employees by the time firefighting season begins in 2022.
Your Union has been trying since mid-February to reach management at Evergreen to ensure these wage increases and all retroactive pay for crews who worked last year are paid.
Unfortunately, management at Evergreen Forestry has to date not responded to any of the attempts by the Union to reach them.
We will continue our efforts to ensure UNW/PSAC members at Evergreen are paid what they deserve. Please continue to check this website regularly for updates.
In Solidarity,
Gayla Thunstrom
UNW President