It’s ‘back to theatrics and politics,’ says Co-op executive

Talks between Unifor and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) failed to end the lockout at the refinery, which has dragged on for two months.

While the main sticking point in the dispute has been proposed changes to defined benefit pensions, a company executive said there were many other factors to consider during negotiations.

Instead, FCL executive vice-president Vic Huard told Gormley the parties met for just 13 hours Friday before talks broke down.

Huard said managers have found efficiencies while operating the refinery along with replacement workers since the lockout began Dec. 5.

“We want to maintain them. This is called de-risking. Maybe that’s a way we can get at some of the money we need … To make sure our refinery is sustainable, we can invest in new technology and make sure that economic engine continues to run at full steam for a long, long time,” said Huard, who noted the refinery is producing gas and diesel at seasonal rates and doing so “more efficiently than ever.”

“There was no willingness (on the union’s part) at all to look at the de-risking conversation and ‘Maybe there’s some tradeoffs here around efficiencies and pension. Are there ways we can ladder the pension changes up?’ You can’t have those conversations in 13 hours, especially when most of that time is spent in caucus where the two parties aren’t even in the same room at the same time.”

According to Unifor, it put forward a proposal that would save the company $12 million per year.

The union is calling on the province to invoke binding arbitration to end the dispute.

Co-op isn’t interested in that route, said Huard, who added the company is on the same page with the province.

“We’ve had great conversations with them about the province’s position and I think the province made that position clear last week,” Huard said. “They’re not interested in binding arbitration. I think like us, they’re interested that the rule of law is observed, the barricades come down and trucks are allowed to move — albeit with some restrictions based on Justice (Janet) McMurtry’s court order.

“Let’s get back to the bargaining table. We’re open to having a provincial mediator sit down with the two parties again. But binding arbitration — it’s a sledgehammer and I don’t think we need that.”

Barricades at the refinery are back up. Huard said the sides will be in court Thursday and he’s expecting Unifor will be found in contempt of a court order.

The union already has been found in contempt — and fined $100,000 — for violation a court order by McMurtry that limits the amount of time picketers at the refinery can stall traffic heading into and out of the facility.

Huard said FCL also will be in an Alberta courtroom on Wednesday seeking a court order against a Unifor blockade of the company’s Carseland bulk fuel terminal.

“To be honest, it’s frustrating,” Huard said. “And here we find ourselves back in a situation where these illegal blockades are in place … There has been no outreach (by the union), by the way, to start negotiations again. It would appear we’re back to theatrics and politics to try and solve it.”