Sides in Regina refinery labour dispute lay down conditions for talks to resume

REGINA — The owner of a Regina oil refinery where workers are locked out in a contract dispute says there has been a discussion with the union about returning to the bargaining table.

But Federated Co-operatives Ltd. says that won’t happen as long as union members continue to block access to the plant.

Unifor’s national president, Jerry Dias, says the company is moving the goalposts when it comes to what conditions need to be met to resume bargaining.

He says he is to meet with Regina’s police chief following mischief charges earlier this week against 14 union members, including himself.

Dias says he’s hoping Chief Evan Bray will contact the refinery, request a cooling-off period and urge the company to get back to the table.

Dias says Unifor’s lawyers are looking at a judge’s decision to fine the union $100,000 for violating an injunction limiting how long pickets can hold up traffic going in and out of the refinery.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2020

The Canadian Press