Unifor Members employed by the Co-op refinery remain locked out Monday morning as the two sides continue to be apart on a new deal.
In a news release issued Sunday night Co-op says it will be helicoptering in staff after they were allegedly harassed and verbally abused by picketing Unifor members.
Co-op says food shipments for management have also been held up when trying to cross the picket line.
The refinery added they respect Unifor’s right and decision to strike, but says Unifor’s Toronto-based leadership has made it clear that they do not share our respectful Western Canadian values, and it’s time they took their business elsewhere.
Unifor denies the allegations of verbal abuse and harassment.
PHOTOS: Co-op Refinery’s unfounded allegations against its unionized workers is a desperate attempt to distract attention away from the unsafe operation of one of Western Canada’s largest refineries.https://t.co/37KGFas4I2 #skpoli #sklab #canlab pic.twitter.com/W60f8UQGp4
— Unifor (@UniforTheUnion) December 9, 2019
More than 700 Unifor members were locked out from the refinery last week after voting 97 percent in favour of striking.
Co-op offered the workers a raise of 11.75% over the next four years, as well as the option to switch to a defined contribution pension.
However Unifor 594 President Kevin Bittman said that’s only one half of the truth.
“The other half is to get that 11.75% we have to go back 17.5%, so I’m not math genius but that’s a rollback, we have to take money out of our pockets to get 11%, that’s not right,” Bittman said. “The other thing is they’re giving us an option to keep our pension plan, but at the same time they’re gutting that current pension plan, so we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars that they want to take out of our pensions.”
Bittman said community support has been great so far.
“We live here, most of our members (live here), we pump our money into this economy, we have great support from the community,” Bittman said. “Once they really find the other half of the truth out, and just not listen to the one half that the company is telling you, our support is great because the fight is worth it.”
Unifor lead negotiator Scott Doherty said their current aim is to stop supply from coming into the refinery.
“Obviously they’re running right now and there’s some trucks getting in and out, but our hope is that we cut it down entirely and in some point in time that may happen,” Doherty said. “That’s their problem, it’s not our problem. The fuel supply isn’t our problem, and they shouldn’t be running.
“If they want to make sure the fuel supply isn’t interrupted, they should get our members back to work.”
Doherty also highlighted the 105 workers brought in from out of province to help keep the refinery going, calling the move by Co-op a slap in the face to the 285 locked out union members they are replacing.
The @Unifor594 picket lines are rock-solid. @CoopRefinery is forced to pay top-dollar to fly in scabs by helicopter. #skpoli #canlab pic.twitter.com/pOEmG05UUR
— Unifor (@UniforTheUnion) December 8, 2019
