Unifor has an information picket line up at Pontrilas this week. (Twitter/Unifor 594)

By Glenn Hicks

Labour Relations

Union says delaying farmers is not what picketing is about

May 28, 2020 | 2:03 PM

Unifor says it’s unlikely any farmers are being unduly delayed as they access Co-op fuel stations that are currently being picketed by members.

Negotiating chair for local 594, Nathan Kraemer, was responding to reports that a local farmer had a truck delayed by an hour earlier this week at the picket line at Pontrilas south of Nipawin.

“Delay isn’t really what’s going on right now,” Kraemer told paNOW. “People can pull up and if they choose to talk with us about why we’re there, we’ll speak with them, but no one’s being held up or prevented access, so I can’t even see a line forming.”

Kraemer did concede it was possible if several drivers chose to speak with the picketers and another truck was further down the line up, then they could face a lengthy delay, but he was doubtful.

“I’m not out at that line but the RCMP are pretty consistently there watching us and making sure we don’t cause that kind of situation, so it would really surprise me if that did happen,” he said.

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He insisted the Unifor members were just trying to spread information.

“We want to get back to work just like the farmers are trying to do themselves. We’re not trying to disrupt their business,” he said.

Earlier this month, the union published an open letter to farmers saying, in part. “ …we are in a position where disrupting the flow of fuel to farmers during seeding is the only option we have to get back to work.”

Unifor workers, who are locked out, have been embroiled in an often bitter labour dispute with Federated Co-op Limited, mainly surrounding pensions. The union is calling on the province to impose binding arbitration, to send members back to work at the Regina refinery.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow