April 24, 2025
Vaughan, ON – The Carpenters’ Regional Council is pleased to announce that UBC members have successfully voted to ratify the Ontario-wide collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for carpenters employed in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors of the construction industry, resulting in an 8% increase in wages over three years (2.67% growth annually).
On the 24th of April, 14 affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) held specially called ratification meetings where members voiced their resounding support of the new CBA. This successful ratification vote caps off several months of productive bargaining between Union and Employer representatives.
Over 75% voted in favour of the Collective Agreement, which reflects the evolving needs of Carpenters’ Union members now and into the future. On top of the 8% wage increase, the contract will deliver meaningful improvements for UBC membership, including health and welfare, pension, area travel provisions such as parking, room and board, and others.
This ratification marks a significant milestone for the UBC, being the first CBA negotiated under the new Carpenters’ Regional Council structure, and the first agreement in over 25 years with a standardized wage increase for all Local Unions across Ontario. Operating as a single Council with one unified voice helped achieve the Carpenters’ second highest settlement in the history of province-wide ICI negotiations (only trailing the unprecedented increases seen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic).
“We are proud of the deal we have achieved through good faith negotiations on both sides,” said Tom Cardinal, President and Chief of Staff of the Carpenters’ Regional Council. “We understand the challenges facing our membership with cost-of-living concerns and an uncertain economic future, nationally. That’s why we’re proud to deliver an 8% increase in wages for our members. We believe they are the most skilled and productive workforce in the country and deserve to be paid as such. This agreement reflects both the economic reality of the moment and the value of our members’ contributions.”
The new collective bargaining agreement will remain in effect until April 30, 2028, and will position UBC members working in Ontario’s ICI sector for continued success and stability in the years to come.
