Managers locked-in and living on-site since December. Replacement and turn around workers living at the Refinery rather than renting accommodations in the community. Hardship for trucking companies and truckers. Struggling local businesses. Divided friendships and families. A police force that is accused of being too harsh or not harsh enough when it comes to enforcing the law. Resources are being diverted away from serious public safety issues in Regina, as a result. And, of course, the hundreds of Unifor Local 594 members and their families who are suffering economic hardship because of the lockout. Sound sensational? It's not. With no end in sight to the Cooperate Refinery Complex (CRC)-Local 594 dispute, City Council must pressure the provincial government to intervene. Oh, and did I mention that the replacement worker camp, which is part of what is allowing this dispute to unfold as it has, was leased to the CRC by the City of Regina. We have a horse in the race, like it or not. That is why I'm advancing this notice of motion.
WHEREAS the Co-operative Refinery Complex (CRC)-Unifor Local 594 dispute is now into its third month;
WHEREAS the lockout has created hardship for the local businesses, community members, truckers, trucking companies, the CRC, Unifor Local 594 members and their families;
WHEREAS the Regina Police Service (RPS) involvement in the dispute has escalated as a result of political pressure, increasing the costs to taxpayers and drawing police resources away from more important public safety activities; and
WHEREAS the Provincial Government has jurisdiction for labour relations and dispute resolution mechanisms in Saskatchewan;
WHEREAS the Provincial Government has appointed a Special Mediator, Vince Ready, to help resolve the dispute, but without the authority to arbitrate a resolution;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that City Council call upon the Provincial Government to use all of the tools at its disposal, up to and including legislation that allows for binding third party binding arbitration, to secure an equitable resolution to the dispute between the parties.
Side note: Despite the Provincial Government's objection to binding arbitration, it is well within their constitutional and legal authority to introduce such legislation, despite the Saskatchewan Employment Act's silence on the matter.