125 Unifor members at Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout ratify new contracts and avert potential strike action

Tim Brody - Editor

Nearly 125 Unifor members at Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout (CLDSL) have ratified new collective agreements following information meetings and voting held March 9 and 10.
Unifor shared in a March 11 media release that, “Approximately 90 members of Unifor Local 324-12 in Dryden voted 92.5 per cent in favour of their new agreement, while 35 members of Unifor Local 324-16 voted 100 per cent in favour of their deal in Sioux Lookout.”
Stephen Boon, Unifor Northern Area Director, said, “as indicated by the strong ratification results, Unifor members in Sioux Lookout and Dryden are very pleased with the solid monetary gains achieved in both new contracts,” said Boon. “Despite increasing challenges related to provincial funding in this sector, we still prioritized fair wage increases along with important gains related to pensions, benefits, meals, mileage allowances and other key monetary items. We commend the work of both bargaining committees, combined with the overwhelming support of our Unifor members, in achieving broad improvements and most importantly securing a new defined benefit CAAT pension plan in Dryden and Sioux Lookout,” Boon added.
“We are extremely pleased with the rock-solid support from Unifor members in Dryden and Sioux Lookout,” said Unifor Local 324 President Katrina Peterson. “Recent 100 per cent strike votes late last month helped overcome the bargaining impasse we faced in November and allowed us to secure a number of important language and monetary gains in both agreements. These solid three-year contracts will provide well-deserved security for our Unifor members as they focus on providing critical support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities,” Peterson added.
 The agreements run from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028, with top wage rates reaching $37.95 by September 1, 2027.