‘This is people’s lives’: Co-op refinery workers rally over pensions

Unionized workers at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina held a rally Friday afternoon, marking the first day of being locked out of the plant.

On Tuesday, the company issued 48-hour notice of a lockout that would take effect at 5:30 p.m. Thursday — one hour after Unifor’s strike notice was to take effect.

According to Unifor Local 594 president Kevin Bittman, the main sticking point for more than 700 workers continues to be in regards to management’s proposal for new pension plans.

“This is people’s lives — people plan their whole lives around this pension plan and to change it at the end of the game is inappropriate,” he said.

Hundreds of @Unifor594 workers are rallying outside the Co-op Refinery in Regina, #Sask. to “stop the attack on hard-earned pension plans.” Local president Kevin Bittman says they’re willing to be out on the picket lines for as long as it takes to get a “fair deal.” #yqr #sask pic.twitter.com/40vG6fk6xL

— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) December 6, 2019

While employees are off the job, Bittman noted the plant is being operated at less than half capacity. He estimated 120 people — mostly managers and temporary workers — are taking on the duties of about 285 highly skilled process operators.

“These workers come from the offices where they have a little bit of training on paper — and they say that they’re qualified. They’re not qualified,” he said. “When things happen inside the plant, things escalate fast — and, if you can’t deal with those situations like we are trained, things will get out of hand really fast.”

With the uncertainty of how operations are going inside the refinery, Bittman added that picketers chose to move the rally farther away from it.

“We were planning on doing the rally in front of the plant, but we figured because we had the public coming to the rally that we would move it as far away as possible,” he explained.

Contract workers and management are operating the refinery in the absence of the Unifor members. The replacements are staying in a work camp on the refinery grounds.

On Friday, those on the picket lines began to delay fuel trucks — which transport gas and diesel across Western Canada — as they entered and left the refinery.

“Our hope is that we’re going to cut (the fuel supply) so that there’s no supply whatsoever,” said Scott Doherty, the executive assistant to Unifor national president Jerry Dias. “Obviously they’re running right now and there are some trucks getting in and out. But our hope is that we cut it down entirely and, at some point in time, that may happen.

“That’s their problem; it’s not our problem … If they want to make sure that the fuel supply isn’t interrupted, they should get our members back to work.”

Doherty predicted people could see an impact on fuel supply within the next week, depending on how much fuel is stockpiled in the refinery.

He also noted that other suppliers are available, so he doesn’t think there will be a fuel shortage in Western Canada as a result of the labour disruption.

Bittman said the next scheduled date for the sides to meet at the bargaining table is Wednesday, but the union is willing to meet before then.

“We’re always looking for a deal. Nobody really wants to be on the picket line in the middle of winter but with what’s on the line right now, we’ll be here,” he said. “If they want to take the concessions off the table, we’ll sit down anytime.”