One independent trucking firm in Regina is calling for both sides in the dispute involving workers at the Co-Op refinery to get back to the bargaining table so that his drivers can do what they are supposed to and not have to spend their day in a long line.
Mike Schick runs K&M Trucking. He said if things don’t get back to normal there will be a fuel shortage across Western Canada because trucks can’t get in and out fast enough to deliver loads.
Schick estimates about 30 loads are going out each day compared to the normal volume of between 180 to 200.
He said his drivers and drivers for other independent companies are stuck in the middle. “Their contacted to haul fuel for FCL. My drivers are not FCL employees and they are not part of Unifor. We don’t really have a dog in that fight, we are just here to do our jobs and the sooner we can get back to that the better for all of us.”
Schick said picketers are treating his drivers with respect. “It’s pretty cordial. We’ve never had anyone have any issues in my company with the actual picketers. There is some hired security that is a little more confrontation, but again also people who don’t have a dog in the fight.”
Schick added that with not many loads are coming out of the facility, drivers with his company and others are affected. “It’s definitely affected their normal shift times, sleep patterns and absolutely our bottom dollar.”
At this time, there is no idea when the two sides will return to the bargaining table. Unifor is holding an event in Regina Sunday morning to announce plans to escalate their campaign for a fair deal.
After the union served strike notice, Federated Co-Op decided to lock employees out on December 5.