Co-op Refinery Unifor members remain locked out and the union is reacting to a news release from the employer which says staff were allegedly harassed and verbally abused by picketing members, so they are now helicoptering them in.

Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National president, says these unfounded allegations are a desperate attempt to distract attention away from the unsafe operation of one of Western Canada’s largest refineries. The union says using temporary employees with little to no experience isn’t a safe way to run the refinery. Unifor Local 594 members have been locked out since last Thursday.

The sticking point in negotiations according to Unifor is concessions proposed by the company that would gut the pension plan.