“What do we want? A fair deal!”
“When do we want it? Now!”
It’s one of the many chants Reginans heard in downtown on Friday morning before the start of the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Thousands in the Queen City took part in a march organized by Unifor marking one week since Crown workers went on strike. While many participants were from Regina, a large number of protesters travelled to the provincial capital for the event, including buses that transported hundreds of workers from Saskatoon.
Live music greeted strikers as they began gathering at City Square Plaza outside of Victoria Park.
Strikers gathering here at City Square Plaza in Regina for today’s Unifor March in downtown #YQR. #Unifor pic.twitter.com/Vv7IWUnGCN
— Moises Canales (@MoisesCanalesJr) October 11, 2019
When the time hit 10:30 a.m., assistant to Unifor’s national president Chris MacDonald went on stage and started the rally. Leading the crowd in chants, one of the bigger topics he discussed was his disappointment that Premier Scott Moe is overseas on his Asia trade mission while workers are on strike.
“He needs to get back here, get us a deal and take away the wage freeze so we can get back to work,” shouted MacDonald as workers cheered him on.
Speeches underway here at Victoria Park. #Unifor members are loud and proud this morning in downtown #YQR. pic.twitter.com/EGJhRox7gV
— Moises Canales (@MoisesCanalesJr) October 11, 2019
He brought up a couple more speakers to share their thoughts and inspiration on a sunny, brisk Regina morning.
Executive assistant to Unifor’s national president Scott Doherty addressed the crowd before they began their march, saying it’s unfair how the premier is out of the country while members are out of work.
“It’s shameful, it’s absolutely shameful. I want to remind everybody that we’re here to fight for a fair deal,” exclaimed Doherty.
David Kuntz of Unifor Local 1S touched on the subject of fairness during negotiations.
“Whether it’s contracting out, mental health, performance management or the wage situation – that’s one of the biggest problems we have,” said Kuntz. “We know what fairness is and we know cost of living is a fair benchmark in regards to fairness.”
Once speeches wrapped up, protesters began making their way towards the SaskPower building. Police and other volunteers helped direct traffic away from the mammoth group of strikers as they stood on the eastbound lanes on Victoria Avenue.
#Unifor workers now I’m front of SaskPower building. A short speech coming soon. Employees at the SaskPower building are watching from their office windows. #Sask #YQR pic.twitter.com/eRx0z4YsTD
— Moises Canales (@MoisesCanalesJr) October 11, 2019
After briefly stationing outside of SaskEnergy, the march changes its route from Victoria Avenue to the northbound lane on Broad Street. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
As workers watched from their office windows below at the protest, the group journeyed east towards SaskEnergy headquarters at the corner of Broad Street and Victoria Avenue.
Some motorists honk their horns as they were rerouted while the strike passed by SaskEnergy on its way towards SaskTel. The march concluded early Friday afternoon as strikers returned to Victoria Park.
Unifor announced earlier that the province is demanding a two-year wage freeze while the provincial government granted themselves a cost-of-living wage increase in the spring.
The government has stated their offer of five per cent over five years is a fair deal.