Union representatives from across the country joined the picket line at Regina’s Co-op Refinery Wednesday to show solidarity with Unifor Local 594 members, who have been locked out since December 5th. Unifor’s national secretary-treasurer, Lana Payne, told the rally she was speaking on behalf of president, Jerry Dias, who was arrested along with other members on Monday night at the Refinery and has since been barred from showing up. If he were to, he could face 2 years in jail.

Payne says the arrests ignited the ire of union members internationally, and now they have more support than ever before. President of the Canadian Labour Congress, Hassan Yussuff, says the provincial government has the legal and moral responsibility to get the parties back to the bargaining table. His message to the police is that they can’t take sides. They are there to keep the peace, and his message to the employer is that the union and its supporters are not going away.

Jim Givens, President of the Seafarers International Union of Canada says if the employer is looking for a fight, they’ve now got themselves a fight with millions of union members across the country and around the world.

President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses, Lida Silas, suggested all union members and supporters write to the Premier and remind him that in Saskatchewan , workers should be treated properly and police resources shouldn’t be interfering in a peaceful picket line. She stresses the need for the provincial government to bring a mediator in to get the parties back to the table and the need for anti-scab legislation in every province and territory.

The main sticking point in the bargaining is changes to the pension plan which the union views as a step back from what they have right now.