Co-op refinery in Regina announces reduction of workforce

Layoffs could be coming at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina.

In a two-paragraph statement issued Friday, the refinery said it had provided formal notice to Unifor Local 594 — which represents employees at the complex — that it will be reducing the number of permanent in-scope employees at the refinery.

“The decision is due in large part to operational efficiencies the company has achieved while preparing to shift toward the low carbon economy,” the statement said.

The release didn’t say how many people would be leaving, but union president Nathan Kraemer claimed the company has said it was looking at reducing the workforce by 87 people. However, refinery spokesperson Brad DeLorey said any reporting of a number at this point would be inaccurate.

“That’s what they need to reduce our workforce by is what they told us,” Kraemer said. “They were able to run with fewer people during the lockout and they think that’s an OK thing going forward.”

The refinery and its employees were embroiled in a bitter, 196-day labour dispute that ended June 22 when the union ratified the collective bargaining agreement.

In Friday’s statement, the refinery said it was looking to reach a deal with the union that could help limit the number of jobs lost “by looking at current vacancies, normal attrition, and voluntary separations, including early retirements.”

“This option would help protect employment for those CRC employees with longer career paths ahead of them,” the statement said.

Kraemer said he feels the decision to remove the positions is unsafe and not agreeable with the union.

“We have these positions bargained in our contract. The time to talk about that was during bargaining and through the lockout. We’ve since ratified a contract so we need to work within the contract we ratified,” Kraemer said.

He said he believes the move could be in retaliation for the lockout, since one of the positions reportedly on the chopping block — the master operator position — is one of the top positions in the bargaining unit.

“Out of what it costs to run a refinery for a year, what they will save by eliminating 87 jobs is insignificant financially,” Kraemer said.

Kraemer said the goal during these negotiations with the company is to avoid any layoffs.

“We can find efficiencies and we can save money and it doesn’t have to come off the backs of workers and families,” Kraemer said.

NDP Labour Critic Carla Beck and Jobs and Economy Critic Aleana Young issued a joint statement after hearing the news, calling it “heartbreaking.”

“These workers have already been through an extremely tough year after having been unfairly locked out of their jobs for months during a pandemic,” the statement said. “Workers fought hard to protect their rights and their pensions and now they’re out of a job.”

The NDP put the blame squarely on Premier Scott Moe’s government, saying the province needs a jobs plan “to help people who are out of work and a plan to protect our local economy.”