Unifor, Co-op ends months-long retirement dispute with new collective agreement “This agreement is about competitiveness within the refining industry and long-term sustainability,” Gil Le Dressay, vice president of refining operations, said in the press release. “It`s about making sure we continue to be an economic driver and provide good jobs for this city and province for generations to come. Our industry is changing and we are just beginning to see how new regulatory requirements and external pressure will shape the future of our industry. We must all recognize that these changes are imminent. We had better face this future as a partner if we work together to achieve our common goals and interests. Last week, unifor Local 594 and CCRL reached an agreement in principle that will be voted on starting today. Unifor Local 594 has been able to stop playing chips. I have no personal knowledge of the content of this offer – but my intuition tells me that it is not what unifor Local 594 members were hoping for, nor what they deserve. We can talk about a Charter-protected right to free collective bargaining – but talking is cheap and it seems that a company like CCRL, which is willing to spend enough, can make that right almost meaningless. In a written statement sent Thursday morning, the union said it worked during negotiations to ensure the return-to-work aspect of the agreement protects members from retaliation from Federated Co-operatives Limited. He said the picket lines now know how to lobby and plan to continue that during the campaign for the upcoming provincial election to change the rules of collective bargaining and help create what he calls “another Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan refinery workers have ratified a preliminary agreement with Federated Co-operatives Ltd. that ends a six-month labour dispute over the company`s defined benefit pension plan. January 31, 2019: Collective agreement expires and collective bargaining begins.
The LRC presents proposals to change the funding and contributions to the existing defined benefit pension plan and other regressive proposals The co-op has not commented publicly since the close of the preliminary agreement, but has issued a statement indicating that the company is optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement since the Union Bargaining Committee has provisionally accepted the agreement and will recommend it to its members. In a press release, the co-op said the new collective agreement “strikes a much-needed balance between the company`s appreciation of our unionized employees and the tax realities of the refinery sector,” noting that it would help ensure a sustainable future for the company. CRC suspended its employees on December 5, 2019. Unifor Local 594 represents approximately 730 CRC employees. Both sides disagreed on pensions in particular. “It was personal,” Bittman said. “The company tried to take a boost from this place, and they didn`t even make a dent in us. Unifor Local 594 attempted to exert economic pressure on the CCRL. Economic pressure is a crucial element of peace in industrial relations – it is the lever that workers can use to reach a fair collective agreement. [3] All 730 Unifor 594 members have been on the picket line since December 5, but will return to work in the coming weeks under the new contract`s return-to-work agreement. “Our industry is changing and we are just beginning to see how new regulatory requirements and external pressures will shape the future of our industry,” said the Dressay.
“We must all recognize that these changes are imminent. We had better face this future as a partner if we work together to achieve our common goals and interests. “They never wavered in this horrific argument, and we will always be grateful for the support we have received from our Unifor family and the entire labour movement. It was anti-union from an employer who earned billions of us, and together we fought and defended our collective agreement. “It was about dismantling the unions, it wasn`t about collective bargaining. Bittman blamed the small union crowd for Thursday`s rain and the moderate response to his announcement, but said the deal brought some relief to workers who have faced uncertainty for six months. He said what began with their employer`s lockdown led to six trips to the bargaining table for him and even online death threats. “This was the first and hopefully the last work stoppage in 78 years of our facility that we faithfully provided to the co-operative refinery with our dedicated work,” said Kevin Bitterman, President of Unifor Local 594, in the press release.
“For some of us, it will be difficult to go back to work, but we will do it with our heads held high because we were in solidarity with each other. It was the most difficult time in our history, but it will make us stronger. CRC said the agreement “encompasses the monetary aspects of our best and final offer as well as a clearly defined agreement to return to work. and an offer that aligns the appreciation of our unionized employees with the fiscal realities of the refining sector. The refinery said the deal included monetary aspects of its previous offer and a return-to-work deal. Unifor said details of the deal will not be released until Unifor 594 members hold a ratification vote. The new seven-year collective agreement contains a selection of pension plans to which employees must contribute. The new seven-year collective agreement for Unifor Local 594 members, who voted in favour with 89 per cent, will retain the existing employee-friendly pension plan and employee savings plan.
Salary improvements are also included in the agreement. He declined to provide details of the agreement, but confirmed that both sides had developed a return-to-work protocol. Due to the new measures introduced for COVID-19, he said some employees may need updated training, but they will be back in the workplace next week. Unifor Local 594 members and their families continue to be followed and filmed by CCRL representatives known to be associated with Afimac. Unifor Local 594 members reported to the Regina Police Service regarding harassment and bullying by Afimac/CCRL representatives, but no action was taken. . January 20, 2020: Unifor National blocks all entrances and exits and refuses entry or exit At least one unifor Local 594 member opened his door to find a dead rabbit on his front porch. The two sides have reached a provisional agreement, according to an announcement by the CRC on Thursday. March 20, 2020: Unifor Local 594 accepts recommendations from special broker Vince Ready with 98% “There was always a way to make a deal,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
“The report by the provincially appointed mediators provided a basis for a new contract, but this dispute continued thanks to interference by the Regina Police Service and the incompetence of Premier Scott Moe.” March 25, 2020: CcRL submits revised offer that includes new concessions Jerry Dias, the union`s national president, said in a press release that members and their bargaining committee have remained steadfast during a difficult and lengthy negotiation process. .