Unifor Local 5-9-4 says it has a plan that would allow them to go back to work at the Co-op Refinery in Regina on Monday. It would require: The appointment of mediator with the power to enforce an agreement if need be; the immediate removal of replacement workers; and the immediate removal of picket lines. National President Jerry Dias says, “If Co-op truly believes that it is making a fair offer, then it should have no issue negotiating with the assistance of a special mediator with a deadline and the power to resolve this lockout.” The deadline for enforcing a binding agreement would be seven days if the two sides can’t reach a negotiated settlement.
After being accused of completely disregarding court orders, Co-op would like to see Unifor fined $1 million plus $100 thousand per day that the injunctions continue to be disregarded.
A Regina judge has reserved decision on that, but not before hearing a claim that the injunctions filed in December have been broken over 100 times.
Co-op also wants Unifor’s lead negotiator and vice president jailed if the court orders are not followed.
The injunctions filed in December, stated that Unifor members locked out of the refinery could not hold up trucks for more than ten minutes.
On January 22nd Unifor was fined $100 thousand after a blockade was set up at the refinery.
Regina Police have arrested 19 Unifor members so far for not following the injunctions.
Unifor members have been locked out of the refinery since December 5th after issuing 48 hour strike notice.
The possibility of fuel shortages in small town Saskatchewan because of the ongoing lockout at the Co-Op Refinery is worrisome for those driving ambulances across the province.
That concern grew this week when Co-Op announced fuel restrictions at cardlock locations.
Kelly Prime, president of the Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan, says his group is not taking a side, but this dispute which has been going on for two months needs to be resolved.
He explains the fuel restriction of 100 litres of gas per day simply isn’t enough for ambulances going to and from different communities and heading to larger hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon when a Co-op cardlock is the only station in town.
To ensure the safety of the public and Saskatchewan communities, Prime says it’s in everyone’s interest for the dispute to come to an end.
[GW/CKRM Feb 7 2020]
