Unifor is ramping up it its strike and striking campaign with a full blown boycott.

The union and the Co-Op Refinery are heading into the second week of lockouts and strikes over wages and pension plans.

Unifor’s Scott Doherty said if the company wants to continue the lockout and steal member’s pensions, it’s time to hit Co-op where it hurts. “We are launching a brand-wide boycott of all things Co-op. Greedy Co-op Groceries, greedy Co-op Gas and greedy Co-op Hardware.”

The union’s Gavin McGarrigle said the union is calling on all Co-op members and union members across the country to stop shopping at anything with the brand until refinery workers get the pension plan they deserve. “We’re calling on all union members to stop shopping at Co-op and join us at rotating secondary pickets of Co-op locations across western Canada which we are now starting to set up.”

The union has also released a new commercial and billboards that will be broadcasted nation wide and posted in prime locations across the country.

“CEO Scott Banda you’ve picked the wrong fight and the wrong union, we will take you on,” said McGarrigle. “With profits of $3-million a day, it is laughable to say that this lockout has never been about the money. This lockout is another step towards abandoning the roots of the Co-op. It is a shame and a stain on everything the Co-op was built on.”

The Co-op Refinery has said it is offering 11.75% over four years, and offering the same pension as before or switching to a defined contribution pension which is similar to the best in the industry.

Federated Co-Op released a statement shortly after the announcement saying the boycott is disappointing, but not surprising.

The statement says over the past week, Unifor has demonstrated that they have no respect for the hard-working truck drivers who haul fuel from the  refinery and no respect for Western Canadian farmers who need fuel to dry and haul their grain during a very difficult crop year.

Unifor is now demonstrating that same lack of respect for Co-op members across Western Canada that work hard
to support our economy.

They are calling for Unifor to return to the table which is something they claim hasn’t happened since September 26.