Regina Co-op refinery strike could impact gasoline users in the Hat
By Medicine Hat News on December 7, 2019.
A labour dispute at a refinery in Regina could have implications for Hatters that typically purchase fuel at Co-op gas stations. A labour dispute has led to a disruption at the Federated Co-operatives Limited refinery in Regina. Members of Unifor Local 594 voted earlier this week in favour of a strike mandate and the union later sent the company a strike notice. Co-op cited safety reasons and issued a lockout notice that took effect on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Workers were on the picket line a short time later. Saskatchewan’s minister of labour says a contract dispute between management and unionized workers is a serious issue for the province. Don Morgan says the refinery supplies smaller centres throughout Western Canada with gasoline and diesel and there could be fuel shortages if those centres have no alternate supply. The workers, who have formed a picket line outside the refinery, held a rally on Friday. The union, representing more than 700 workers at the refinery, said pensions are a key issue. The company says it’s offering the union a fair choice between two pension plan options. Morgan says the government will be monitoring operations at the refinery to ensure that supplies continue and temporary workers are safe. Unifor declared an impasse in contract negotiations in September, which led to the appointment of a mediator. The workers’ last contract expired in February, while the company reported in March that 2018 was a record year for earnings of nearly $1.1 billion from close to $10.7 billion in sales. — with files from The Canadian Press 15-14
