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December 5, 2019
REGINA—Members of Unifor Local 594 and their supporters will send a strong message to Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) to stop the attack on hard-earned pension plans.
“A refinery clearing $3 million a day in profit can easily afford to meet pension obligations to a highly skilled workforce,” said Scott Doherty, lead Unifor negotiator and Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President.
Lock-out notice was served to unionized workers on Tuesday by the refinery after a mandatory 14-day cooling off period ended. Negotiations had hit an impasse when Co-op demanded concessions on workers’ pensions, despite a promise during the last round of bargaining to not meddle with the plans. Local 594 has refused to sacrifice pension choice and protection and has stated that it will not go backwards.
With 800 members of Unifor Local 594 covering 21 different job classifications now locked out, refinery operations are being attempted by a much smaller group of underqualified replacement workers, jeopardizing both safety and production.
Members of the media are invited to join Unifor workers and their supporters in a show of strength and resolve tomorrow.
What: Rally for Unifor Local 594 - Respect for Refinery Workers
Who: Kevin Bittman, President of Unifor 594; Scott Doherty, lead negotiator, Exec. Assistant to National President
When: December 6 at 12 p.m.
Where: Picket line at Co-op Refinery Gate #7
For those unable to attend the rally will be streamed live on Unifor’s Facebook page.
For media inquiries please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at @email or 778-903-6549 (cell)
