Co-op refinery, unionized employees remain at odds

Negotiations between the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina and its unionized employees are in a 14-day cooling-off period.

The refinery and Unifor Local 594 went through two days of conciliation last week. After the cooling-off period ends, the sides can give lockout or strike notice within 48 hours.

In a media release, the union said it has not yet taken a strike vote in hopes that negotiations will resume.

“The safest and best thing for everyone is for our members to be inside the fence, not outside,” Kevin Bittman, the president of Unifor 594, said in the release. “Our members love their work and want to continue to be a vital part of FCL (Federated Co-operative Limited) and Canada’s economy with a fair deal.”

The refinery also said it wants to get back to the table.

“I want to emphasize that our priority is to get a deal done at the bargaining table and avoid a labour disruption; however, that means that both sides must be willing to bargain,” Gil Le Dressay, the vice-president of operations at the refinery, said in a media release issued by the company. “We encourage the Unifor 594 Executive to return to the bargaining table.”

The refinery’s release noted that, with negotiations stalled, it will continue its preparations for a labour disruption. That means a work camp, which would house management personnel and contracted workers on the refinery’s property.

“Refineries like ours cannot simply be shut off and we cannot risk the Union just walking out of the Refinery and leaving our operation, our employees, and our community vulnerable,” Le Dressay said in the release. “At the same time, we must ensure that we continue to produce the products that fuel agriculture, transportation and our economy.”

The union, which represents nearly 800 refinery workers, said the company is asking its employees to give significant ground on pensions.

According to the union, the company wants to dismantle its defined benefit plan and get its employees into a defined contribution plan.

“We have been clear from the start of bargaining we were not prepared to go backwards,” Bittman said. “We are willing to make changes to the pension liabilities for the employer but our members need choice and protection to ensure pension security for every worker.”

The union said the company is asking employees to make concessions of more than 17.5 per cent.

In its release, the company said it made an offer Thursday that included a pay increase of 11.75 per cent over four years as well as the option to choose between the defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.

As well, the company said, employees “would have access to a company performance plan that is based on the overall performance of the Company, as well as several enhancements to group benefits.”