Update on strategic projects in Norske Skog

Unifor is proud to announce the conclusion of a historic agreement in principle between the employees at the Kruger plant in Trois-Rivières and the company's management, putting an end to the strike that began on May 30, 2024. Union members overwhelmingly approved the agreement at ratification meetings held throughout the week. This new four-year collective agreement marks a major milestone for employees, with unprecedented wage increases and substantial improvements to benefits, vacation, pension and the introduction of an overtime bank for production employees. The salary increases are spectacular: from May 1, 2024, employees will benefit from an 8% salary adjustment and an additional 3% increase. In 2025, wages will be further increased by $1.30 per hour. For 2026 and 2027, employees will receive a guaranteed increase of 2.25% or more, depending on the pattern in effect.

Mondi has decided to postpone its €135 million investment in a new 90,000 tonne per annum machine glazed speciality kraft paper machine at its Steti mill in the Czech Republic. Commenting on the decision, Peter Oswald, Mondi CEO, said, “We have decided to postpone the machine glazed speciality kraft paper machine investment after a careful review of market conditions. While the proposed new machine remains an exciting investment opportunity, offering the lowest cost production of its sort in Europe, recently announced industry capacity expansions are expected to result in a market imbalance over the period in which the new machine was planned to come on line. There is no change to our €335 million investment in modernising the mill including rebuilding the fibre lines, de-bottlenecking the existing packaging paper machines and a new recovery boiler, which is progressing as planned.”

Please be advised that effective with shipments on or after October 16, 2017, Twin Rivers Paper Company will be implementing a US $2.00/cwt price increase on all Publishing grades.