Service & Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Secure New Master Agreement at Domtar

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Secure New Master Agreement at Domtar

USW members pose for a group picture with their arms crossed.

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

United Steelworkers (USW) members across nine local unions voted overwhelmingly this winter to approve a new master contract covering workers at Domtar paper facilities around the United States.

This new agreement is the first after a series of acquisitions in 2021 and 2023. But thanks to the steadfast unity displayed by members nationwide and well-established internal communications channels, they won the best wage increases the USW has ever negotiated with Domtar.

“With new ownership and leadership at the table, we knew this round of bargaining would be challenging,” said USW International Vice President Luis Mendoza, who oversees the union’s paper sector. “It wasn’t easy, but with working families seeing expenses rising across the board, and the industry in a time of uncertainty, members should be proud of the progress they made in this agreement. By standing together, members achieved a fair agreement that rewards their hard work but also positions the company for success and protects workers’ future in a changing industry.”

Kenneth Quinnell