Province keeping a close eye on labour dispute at refinery

As workers are on the picket lines, and managers and replacement workers try to run Regina’s Co-op refinery, the provincial government is keeping a close eye on all of it.

“When you’ve got an employer that’s that large and is that integral to the province, it’s something that we’re concerned about and will want to watch,” said Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan.

He said there are 1,100 jobs at stake. The refinery is the main supply line for Co-ops across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and into B.C., and there are concerns about safety and security in Regina’s northeast.

Morgan said the refinery is monitored by two different ministries, and they’re going to be watching closely. He said the province works with the refinery on an ongoing basis, and it hasn’t asked the company to step up ongoing inspections during the dispute.

“Federated is very conscious of safety and has got a quality plan in place, and we’ll be watching to make sure that it’s complied with,” Morgan said.

A spokesperson with the ministry said there was a team at the refinery on Wednesday, but there wouldn’t be anyone placed on-site if job action takes place. If the ministry gets any calls or complaints about the refinery then they’ll be addressed, but otherwise, the normal inspection schedule for the refinery will be followed.

Morgan said the province supplied a mediator earlier in the negotiations and gave credit to both sides, saying they had asked for more time and additional services to try to get something done.

“We’ve indicated to both sides that if there’s anything else they want from us by way of mediation, arbitration or conciliation, we’ll make all of the facilities that we have available at any time,” Morgan said. “And we reached out to both sides and we’re going to continue to maintain the lines of communication as well as we can. It’s an important issue for our province.”

There is still a question of whether the refinery will maintain its capacity during the lockout. Morgan said that’s also something the province is going to watch carefully and will want to see that supply continues to those places that need it.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Jessie Anton