Picketers are out at the Co-op bulk fuel station just south of Pontrilas. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Unifor labour dispute

Pontrilas area farmer not pleased with Unifor pickets at Co-op bulk fuel station

May 26, 2020 | 2:18 PM

A Pontrilas, Sask. area farmer is not happy that Unifor picketers are set up at some northeast Co-op bulk fuel stations.

Ian Rushmer farms about three miles from the bulk fuel station that is just south of Pontrilas. Rushmer told northeastNOW he thinks what they’re doing is not fair to people in the area.

“There’s a lot of unemployment in the area right now,” he said. “And a lot of people that do have jobs have actually taken pay cuts in order to keep their jobs. And these guys are doing their little dance and making it hard for other people to do their job, and they’re wanting more money.”

“There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of logic to this one.” _{-Pontrilas area farmer Ian Rushmer}

Earlier this month, the union published an open letter to farmers saying blocking the fuel supply during seeding was their only option. Unifor is calling on the province to impose binding arbitration, to send members back to work at the Co-op Refinery in Regina.

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(Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

Rushmer said due to the blockades, he had a truck that was held up at the fuel station for an hour.

“If the truck driver is tied up any length of time at the tanks there getting fuel,” Rushmer said. “Then it just delays us as well.”

He called it “absolutely absurd” the picketers are picking on farmers right now who are working to bring food to consumers.

“If I had a beef cow, they don’t have any roast beef for tonight,” Rushmer said. “If I’m a potato grower, they don’t have any potatoes to put on their plate. If I’m a wheat grower, what are they going to do for flour and bread?”

Reports are also suggesting that pickets are also set up near Meacham, as well as near Canora.

—With files from 650CKOM

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mat.barrett@gmail.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6