Unifor wants province to end lockout at Regina refinery after mediation ends with no deal

Unifor is calling for legislation to end the lockout at theCo-op Refinery Complex in Regina.

The union says that while it "reluctantly" agreed last Thursday to the terms recommended by a mediator, it is shocked Federated Co-Operatives Limited (FCL) did not accept them in full.

Unifor 594representsabout 800 employees at the Co-op Refinery Complex. The company locked themout Dec. 5, 2019, after the union issueda 48-hour strike notice on Dec. 3.

In the months since, theunion has picketed and set up blockades atthe refinery property, resulting in in court disputes and arrests involving national and local union leaders and members.

The majorsticking pointin the dispute is pensioncontributions.

Before the lockout began, FCL proposedallowing employees to keep their defined benefit planif they started making payments into their pension, among other changes. At that time, the union rejected it.

The special mediator'sreport called for employees currently enrolled in the defined benefit plan to start contributingfour per cent of their average earnings into their pension plans upon ratification of a contract, then eight per cent beginning in February of 2022.

Union claims FCL using COVID-19 as excuse

A news release from the union claimedthe company is using COVID-19 to leverage more concessions from its oil and gas workers.

In an FCL statement released when the company did not accept the full terms of the recommendations, FCL said'stark world developments'and changing global economic circumstances have resulted in declines in oil demand and oil prices.

"Our inability to accept the report in full stems from our responsibility to you our employees,our local co-op owners, our customers, and the broader communities that depend on a long-term, sustainable future for our Refinery," the statement said.

Unifornational president Jerry Dias responded in anotherrelease.

"Western Canada needs a secure fuel supply and the skilled operation of the Regina refinery. Instead, [FCL's] Scott Banda wants to use a public health crisis as bargaining leverage on his own employees," Dias said.