FCL disappointed to see more blockades before bargaining

February 14, 2020

With only a few days until bargaining on the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) contract is scheduled to resume, Unifor has erected yet another illegal blockade. This time, Unifor has used fences to blockade an FCL bulk fuel terminal, propane branch and cardlock in Saskatoon.

“These latest antics are disappointing, but after everything Unifor has done, they’re unfortunately not surprising,” said Scott Banda, CEO of Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL). “We’re taking the appointment of a special mediator and the resumption of bargaining next week very seriously. All we ask is that our union partners in this negotiation will do the same and end these illegal blockades.”

Unifor has used blockades at the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) in Regina as well as an FCL fuel terminal in Carseland, Alta., to stop FCL from delivering fuel to local co-ops and their customers. In both of these cases, court injunctions deemed the blockades illegal and ordered their removal. Unifor also blocked Co-op fuel trucks from accessing third-party fuel terminals in Winnipeg earlier this week and set up a picketing line yesterday and threatened to block Co-op fuel trucks from entering a third-party terminal in Prince George, B.C.

On Tuesday, FCL and Unifor are set to return to the bargaining table with the assistance of Vince Ready, a provincially appointed special mediator.

The CRC continues to operate safely and efficiently thanks to a highly skilled team. Yesterday, the CRC began preparing for the annual spring maintenance Turnaround to ensure the refinery remains safe and productive.

More information on the labour disruption at CRC is available at refineryfacts.ca.