Unifor national president Jerry Dias was arrested by Regina police at the picket line in front of the Co-op refinery on Jan. 20, 2020. (980 CJME file photo)

By CJME News

Jerry Dias, Unifor members facing additional charges

Aug 31, 2020 | 6:06 PM

Unifor national president Jerry Dias and other members of the union are facing new charges in connection with the lockout at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina.

The group initially was charged with mischief following an incident on the picket line Jan. 20. That day, Dias conducted media interviews from the back of a police van after being arrested.

Now, court documents say the Crown laid another mischief charge against Dias and the others as well as a charge of obstructing a police officer. It isn’t clear what prompted the new charges, which were sworn out Friday.

The matter is to be back in Regina Provincial Court on Sept. 9.

There were a number of arrests and court appearances during the six-month-long lockout at the refinery.

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Scott Doherty, Dias’ executive assistant, also was charged with mischief and four others were charged after what police called “a confrontation” on the picket line in late April.

As well, the sides went to court several times to argue over injunctions the company was seeking to halt the union’s actions on the picket line at the refinery and in other locales.