Unifor Local 594 resumes picketing, renews call for binding arbitration

The president of Unifor Local 594 said locked-out workers from the Co-op refinery are back on the picket lines this week, albeit in small groups to maintain physical distancing.

On Tuesday, union members held another rally at the Legislative building in their vehicles.

A coupe hundred vehicles are driving outside the legislature and honking horns in support of Unifor during the ongoing labour dispute with the Co-op Refinery. #yqr pic.twitter.com/FXXQ2TXX7K

— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) May 6, 2020

It’s all a reminder that the lengthy labour dispute continues, with proposed changes to pensions being the main point of contention. The company locked out employees Dec. 5.

After the membership voted to reject what the company called its “final offer,” Local 594 president Kevin Bittman said the workers are still calling on the provincial government to invoke binding arbitration — something Premier Scott Moe has said would be “unprecedented.”

Bittman argues that in 1984, the provincial government ordered workers back on the job in a dairy dispute.

He also said the current situation with Federated Co-operatives Ltd., is a unique situation.

“We’re in unprecedented times. I don’t imagine there’s many times where there’s a collective bargaining process that’s broken down so far that the company doesn’t even want to deal,” Bittman said. “At some point, we need to get people back to work.

“We accepted concessions that took lots of money out of our members’ pockets and gave the company $20 million in savings during record profits and that’s not enough. If that’s not unprecedented, I’m not sure what is.”

Unifor has written to the premier reiterating its request. The letter also contains claims that, according to union sources within the company, Co-op plans to fire the executive.

Bittman said asking the government to intervene would not necessarily invite the province to intervene in private sector matters in the future.

“You have to look at every situation on its own merit,” he said. “If a company or a union is strong-arming and trying not to get a deal, I think that’s when the process is broken down and the rules aren’t made for that.”

He also addressed a recent altercation that happened on the picket line, resulting in charges against union members.

“We’ve been getting run over on the lines,” Bittman said. “We’ve been verbally assaulted. Truck drivers have ran over our pylons and swerved towards us. It’s a little disheartening that the police charged our members when they have never charged anyone when they’ve run over our members on the line.

“It was a shoving match more than anything but we don’t condone violence but they were just defending themselves.”

Unifor members responded with a protest in front of the Regina police station, which led to officers ticketing their vehicles.