Employees begin picketing at Co-op Refinery Complex

Employees at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina are out on the picket line.

Unifor Local 594 issued a strike notice that was set to take effect Thursday at 4:30 p.m. In response, the company issued notice of a lockout that was to occur at 5:30 p.m.

Roughly 725 unionized Co-op Refinery workers are officially locked out.@Unifor594 President Kevin Bittman shares a few words to kick off their picket lines in Regina. #yqr pic.twitter.com/ECyInezO41

— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) December 5, 2019

The unionized workers voted 97.3 per cent in favour of a strike during meetings Monday night and Tuesday morning.

About 720 employees are expected to be affected by the work stoppage. Unifor Local 594 president Kevin Bittman said the main sticking point between the sides deals with pensions and the company asking workers to make concessions.

Bittman said the employees were ready to begin picketing as soon as the lockout began. Bittman said it will take place outside of the gates of the refinery.

Bittman said he believes the company will be using temporary employees to run the refinery during the lockout.

“I’m guessing that they will be running the refinery with an undertrained, underskilled work force,” Bittman said. “We’ll be out on the outside hoping they don’t blow it up while we’re standing there.”

The company started construction on a work camp Oct. 15 in preparation for a labour disruption. The trailers are to house temporary contract workers as well as managers who are to fill in for unionized workers during the work stoppage.

Since both job action notices were handed out on Tuesday, Bittman said neither side has gone back to the bargaining table.