Binding arbitration is not an option to end a two-week strike in Saskatchewan, according to the Crown Investments Corporation.

In a statement sent from the government, President and CEO of Crown Investments Corporation Blair Swystun said the Crowns will not be agreeing to binding arbitration as proposed by Unifor.

“We believe agreements can be reached by continuing to bargain in good faith,” stated Swystun in the release. Unifor delivered a letter to Premier Scott Moe saying an agreement to arbitration would mean employees could return to work

There were discussions between the bargaining committees for the striking Unifor Locals and the Crown Corporations over the last two days, but the sides have reached an impasse. National Unifor president Jerry Dias believes the Crowns want to make a deal, but the provincial government is keeping them from doing so.

He also thinks its the government who mandated the original proposal of a zero per cent wage increase for the first two years, followed by one per cent in year three and two per cent in the fourth and fifth years.

“We all agreed to have a third-party arbitrator to look at the economic feasibility of the Crowns, the rate of inflation, and to make a decision outside of your government’s interference,” said Dias at a Unifor rally on Friday evening in Regina.

Dias mentioned how there was some movement on Thursday with a bit of an improvement to the economic offer, but on Friday, the offer regressed. He said the Premier needs to “take the shackles off the crowns.”

“To tell us you’re not going to participate, then meet with the Crowns and give direction like you did [Friday] is frankly a lie.”

Around 5,000 Unifor members have been on strike since October 4.

(Files from CJWW)