There is a major breakthrough in the lockout at the Co-Op refinery.
On Monday, Unifor’s Scott Doherty announced that the two sides will be getting together.
“At 4:00 p.m. today in Saskatoon, Kevin, Jerry and I will be meeting with Scott Banda in the hopes that we can finally end this dispute and get a fair deal for our members and get our members back to work at this refinery.”
Here at Gate 7 at the Co-op Refinery Complex in #Regina. Another rally here in #YQR. Day 53 sees more union members joined at the picket line. #Unifor pic.twitter.com/qCDYGAr0vg
— Moises Canales (@MoisesCanalesJr) January 27, 2020
Doherty, who serves as the executive assistant to national president Jerry Dias, shared there were no concessions or agreements made with FCL regarding the blockade surrounding the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina or movement of trucks in order to get this meeting.
“We’ll see what comes out of the meeting today and we’ll make that determination, but at this point in time we’re staying where we’re at,” added Doherty. “We want to get to the bargaining table and we want to get a fair deal.”
Doherty mentioned there is fuel leaving the facility by rail and pipeline, but it’s not a lot. Most of the products transported by train are taken to the Carseland terminal in Alberta, where members have been blocking fuel trucks since late last week.
“The fact they are having a conversation with us is a good sign. We’ll see what comes out of this meeting and hopefully it means we get back to the bargaining table.”
Unifor’s Scott Doherty provides an update to picketers and viewers on their Facebook Live video in front of Gate 7 at the Co-op refinery in Regina on Jan. 27, 2020. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
Unifor Local 594 president Kevin Bittman said the only way to end this is at the bargaining table and hopes this is a good sign to the lockout ending.
“Regina is fractured right now because of this lockout. It’s divided the community, and make no mistake, everyone needs this lockout to end,” said Bittman.
“We’re not going to give up half our pensions because we’re not being greedy here – we only want to keep what we have.”
This is day 53 of the lockout.
(With files from Moises Canales)
