UPDATE: Union Barricade In Weyburn Concluded

Update: The barricade has been taken down as of early this afternoon. We have reached out to Unifor to find out the reason they closed a few hours before they had planned.

RCMP said they were on the scene throughout the day for peace-keeping purposes.

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from 12:02 p.m:

The barricades at the Prairie Sky Co-op gas bar and convenience store at the intersection of Highway 13 & 39, just on the outskirts of Weyburn, continued throughout Monday morning and stretched into the afternoon.

Beginning in the early morning hours, members of Unifor, the union representing employees at the Federated Co-op refinery in Regina, set up fencing around the gas bar and card lock, preventing any and all access to the facility. In a release issued by Unifor Monday morning, the move was deemed as an information picket to let Co-op retailers and members know they can help to get refinery executives back to the bargaining table.

Scott Doherty is a negotiator with Unifor and was on the scene Monday morning. He was asked by Discover Weyburn if people who wished to go to the adjacent restaurant Main Track Cafe, could pass through the barricade, as the restaurant is not affiliated with Co-op.

“No they can’t,” Doherty said. “Not right now, but we’ve spoken with the diner, and they’re fine with where things are right now.”

Since the news of the barricades first broke on social media, and on Discover Weyburn, there has been a fairly negative response towards Unifor. This didn’t seem to faze Doherty or Unifor.

“The reception has been, I think, a bit of a shock,” Doherty said. “Obviously we’ve got some people that are supportive of the fact that we’re trying to get information out, others are obviously frustrated, just like our members are frustrated being locked out of the Co-op refinery.”

In a statement released via social media, Prairie Sky Co-op apologized for the inconvenience and encouraged customers to use their other locations, which were unaffected by the disruption.

The RCMP had officers on the scene to keep the peace, as the situation was happening just outside the city limits. Weyburn Police Service issued a statement stating they were unable to do anything at this time but were ready to assist the RCMP if they were asked.

We will provide further information as it becomes available.