Unifor members picket outside Co-op AGM in Saskatoon

Around 30 Unifor members stopped outside the main entrance of TCU Place in Saskatoon on Saturday to draw attention to the ongoing lockout at the Regina refinery.

“We thought it was important to get here and get into the ears of the retailers and give them the facts that are on the table,” Unifor Local 594 President Kevin Bittman said.

He believes union members are getting a bad rep from management as the labour dispute drags on.

“We’re not being unreasonable we offered $20-million in savings and the company said they didn’t want (it),” Bittman said. “Retailers and people on the boards don’t understand that.”

Mediator Vince Ready was appointed to help the two sides come to a deal but the talks haven’t gone very far, according to Bittman.

“He (Ready) had some (personal) things he had to deal with so the mediation will start again on Monday,” he explained.

Bittman said Ready was given all the information and started some exploratory steps, before the break.