REGINA – Officials with the Co-op Refinery Complex say the union representing its workers have chosen to forgo any further mediation in talks between the two sides.

The move triggers a mandated two-week cooling-off period. After this time has passed, a 48-hour strike or lock-out notice can be given as both sides would be in legal position for job action.

The refinery says Unifor Local 594 decided not to engage in the mediation process until “certain pre-conditions” were met.

“We were hopeful that the mediation process would get a deal done,” said refinery vice president of operations Gil Le Dressay in a release.

Le Dressay’s statement adds an offer was made on Nov. 7 that includes an 11.75 per cent pay increase over four years, among other benefits.

The company is encouraging the union to come back to the bargaining table, reiterating that the priority is avoiding a labour disruption. However, the company also says contingency plans are in the works for potential job action.

“We will now begin our preparations to ensure that our highly-skilled management team is ready to assume safe operation of our refinery in the event a labour disruption does occur,” Le Dressay stated. “Refineries like ours cannot simply be shutoff and we cannot risk the Union just walking out of the Refinery and leaving our operation, our employees, and our community vulnerable.”

The union said in a news release the nearly 800 workers at the Refinery are “disappointed that mandatory mediation made little to no progress with the employer and they are still without a fair deal that doesn’t include concessions.”

"We are disappointed Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) continues to come to the bargaining table demanding roll backs in our pensions and other concessions, despite the fact that this employer continues to rake in billions of dollars in profits,” President of Unifor 594 Kevin Bittman said.

“We have been clear from the start of bargaining we were not prepared to go backwards. We are willing to make changes to the pension liabilities for the employer but our members need choice and protection to ensure pension security for every worker. During this time of sustained record profits, anything less would be an unnecessary concession.”

The Union calls the refineries want to keep concessions of over 17.5% unacceptable and disrespectful.

"Offering either an inferior Defined Contribution (DC) plan while dismantling the Defined Benefit (DB) plan is not a choice, it is an attack on our members' retirement security and will not be accepted under any circumstances," Executive Assistant to National President Scott Doherty said.

The union says it has proposed compromises that were dismissed, including making a switch in pension plans voluntary.

"We will not accept that an employer making $3 million a day, thinks our pension security is an unreasonable ask for our highly skilled, experienced, and loyal workers who keep the refinery safe and profitable," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

The union adds it has not taken a strike vote, because it hopes the employer will come back with a different offer.