VANCOUVER—Unifor and Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada (PPWC) have decided to work together in the next round of pulp and paper bargaining in Western Canada.

Both companys — considered to be two of the country’s largest unions in the pulp and paper sector, met in Vancouver last week to re-establish the Joint Pulp and Paper Caucus for upcoming negotiations in 2017.

"Working together will help us better resolve issues in an industry that has significant challenges," Scott Doherty, assistant to the national president at Unifor said.

PPWC and Unifor have been bargaining to maintain common pension, wage and benefit language in the collective agreements of both organizations. Since 2002, the company’s bargained separately but agreed to work together in the future, having already teamed up on the Pulp and Paper Industry Pension Plan and the Pulp and Paper Safety Conference.

The PPWC represents thousands of workers across B.C. and Unifor is Canda’s largest union in the private sector, representing 305,000 workers.