December Conciliator

Volume 19 | Issue 12 | December 2019

IN THIS ISSUE:

Life on the Line Series

Sustainability

Boycott Update

Happy Holidays

Last Laugh

Supporters & Donors

Quote of the Month

594 Swag

EXECUTIVE

President:

Kevin Bittman

Recording Secretary:

Carla McCrie

Treasurer:

Kaleena Baulin

Negotiating Chairperson:

Nathan Kraemer

Maintenance V.P.:

Jason Kelly

Process V.P.:

Avery Riche

Administration V.P.:

Lance Holowachuk

PDD V.P.:

David Limacher

Chief Shop Steward:

Richard Exner

Information Officer:

Ashlyn Heintz

Guide:

Brandon Mang

Sergeant at Arms:

Brandon Klatt

Trustees:

Daryl Nylen (19)

Amy Wisniewski (20)

Daryl Watch (21)

LIFE ON THE LINE SERIES

Name: Mike Santangelo

Years of Service: 6.5 years

Department/Section: Scaffolder

What makes you the proudest of your job? Helping out when emergency work pops up.

What makes you the proudest of your Union? Such a great group of people. Everyone out there works so hard to keep each other safe. We always come together to get the job done.

Why are you picketing? I picket for the workers past and present who fought for the benefits I enjoy today. I picket because I could never work alongside the people inside now.

Who are you picketing for? My 594 family.

What impact has the lockout had on you? I’ve met a lot of people from other departments and made some new friends. I will have to make a lot of sacrifices over the holidays, but I will do anything that means I am surrounded by friends and family.

What is it like walking a picket line? The work people have done in preparation for this has made the line very enjoyable. The union has never been tighter knit.

What are you doing for self-care during this time? Spending all my time with friends and family has helped. Hard to be stressed when I see my baby boy.

What is something you want the public to know about this lockout? The Company would rather lose more money to outsourcing work/lost production than fund the pensions of the people that helped make billions. Would rather hurt hundreds of families in their own backyard than honour a promise made.

Any other comments? No matter how this lockout ends, I appreciate the work our board has done immensely.

Want to see more?

Visit: Life on the Line Profiles

SHOP STEWARDS

Section IA:

Wade Schnell

Section IB:

Charles Brittner

Section II:

Chad Gettle

Section III:

Curtis Baht & Kevin Geiger

Section IV:

Ryan Jelinski

Section V:

Chad Thompson &

Andrew Murray

Building Maintenance:

Gary Gruell

MRP: Vacant

Pipefitters:

Shaun Jenkins & Karl Dahle

Mechanics:

Derek Kups

Stores:

Dallas Allen & Nathan Fafard

Electrical:

Les Bonkowski

Instrumentation:

Jaret McCloy &

Dave Mushynsky

Inspection:

Keith Britton

Fire & Safety:

Daryl Watch

Lab:

Scott Weber

Pumpers:

Ryan Dzioba

Decokers:

Jon Javorik

Welders:

Scott Wickland

Scaffolders:

Nelson Wagman

Construction:

Mike Pelzer

Boilerhouse:

Matt Wason

Insulators:

Luke McGeough &

Brandon Mang

PDD Office:

Andrew Fowlow

PDD Loading:

Dylan Bailey & Derek Emperingham

Packing & Blending,

Warehouse: vacant

Administration:

Tasha Davis &

Randy Guillemin

HIGHLIGHTING SUSTAINABILITY

It is tiring how often the Company talks about sustainability in our workplace and now the media.

The Company rhetoric states that we are unsustainable, and we need to make serious cuts to employee benefits, or else the Refinery’s existence will be threatened. The Company claims the only path to sustainability and competitiveness in the Industry, is to not pay a dime more than their competitors.

We have all heard it over and over, but let’s look more closely at the facts.

If you browse FCL’s website, you will find many interesting tidbits. FCL boasts that the Refinery began with eight farmers who believed they would produce and distribute their own petroleum products in 1935 and CRC has now grown to become one of Canada’s largest integrated refining and upgrading complexes.

Flash forward to 2019; and the Co-op Refinery has grown into a Western Canadian behemoth, with over 500 gas stations in four provinces, and diesel churning through the majority of every farm on the Prairies. It’s a testament to the success of the Refinery, and the hard work of the unionized employees that give endlessly to continue that success.

We’ve come a long way. That’s 84 years of growth and sustainability. We have survived 84 years of pipelines getting built around us, of fluctuating interest rates and market pressures, and 84 years of cyclical oil prices. Growing, adapting, and learning are all challenges every business must face.

So how did we suddenly become unsustainable?

FCL’s website has a list of “2018-2019 Sustainability Highlights” which includes $10.7 Billion in Sales, $1.1 Billion in Profit, $789 Million in Patronage to local Co-ops and $449 Million in Salaries and Wages across the entire Co-op Retailing System.

If these are the “Sustainability Highlights”, what are the unsustainable highlights? We couldn’t find any.

The 2018 Salaries & Wages of $449 Million includes: Wages and Salaries, Statutory and other Company benefits and all Pension costs (DB and DC). This is all laid out in FCL’s financial statements. So, why are they telling us we need to take cuts in our benefits?

Is FCL paying more in wages and salaries than other companies??

Second Wind Consultants list the fact that if you pay 15-30 percent of Gross Sales into salaries and wages, your business is likely in solid standing. This varies by industry but seems to be an average safe zone. Their website also states that “A payroll that exceeds 30% of gross revenue (Sales) is one of the most common reasons businesses fail”. (www.secondwindconsultants.com)

Let’s look at our numbers:

2018 FCL Gross Sales of $10.7 Billion and FCL Salaries and Wages of $449 Million which equals 4.2% of Sales. This is way under the 15-30% benchmark. Sounds sustainable.

We are constantly told that we are being compared to our peers so let’s look at one of our peers. In 2018, Suncor made $39.59 Billion in Gross Sales and paid $3.26 Billion in Salaries and Wages which equals 8.2% of Gross Sales. So, in comparison, FCL is paying less in Salaries and Wages then Suncor.

Are we being lied to?

The numbers don’t lie. We aren’t being paid too much, if anything maybe we aren’t being paid enough. But that’s okay. Our membership has made bargaining for the future, rather than the present, a priority. Pension security compared to wage increases and benefits, because we are here for the long haul. Our dedicated workforce put the care in career and are invested in the Co-op Refinery.

It’s time the Co-op lived up to their promises and invested in its’ people.

BOYCOTT UPDATE

On December 15th, Unifor National declared a nation-wide boycott of all Co-op brands including gas stations, groceries and hardware.

The boycott includes television ads, radio ads and billboards across Canada.

Pledge to boycott Co-op and learn more by visiting http://www.boycottco-op.ca/ Help to spread the word by sharing the boycott video with friends and family.

WHY ARE WE ON THE LINE?

---> Year One = 15% out of workers pockets

---> Pension changes that take hundreds of thousands out of our pension

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

This Christmas will look a little different than any other year as we walk the line to fight for our rights against a greedy co-operative. We will celebrate our solidarity and lift each other up with holiday cheer.

This will be a long fight as the Company tries to break us as a union. Their efforts have only created a more unified membership.

The conversations that I have heard on the line are amazing. They are powerful. Our members know why we are walking and who we are walking for.

This holiday season, take the time to look after yourself. Take time to be with your loved ones.

Thank you for your unwavering solidarity, your strength in this time of hardship and the support you've shown to your local executive.

I would like to wish all 594 members and their families a Happy Holiday season!

Kevin Bittman

Unifor 594 President

LAST LAUGH

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND DONORS

Our hearts have been filled to overflowing with the support from other unions, local businesses and community members. These lovely people have stopped by the picket lines to show us support, (and usually help fill our bellies in this cold weather). Some of these businesses have just helped us to make our budget go farther by offering discounts on services or products. Lastly, but not least, we have received incredible service from many businesses that helped us out on short notice or answered their phone well outside of business hours.

For stopping by our picket lines with support and gifts:

· CrossFit Iron Society

· Cobs Bread Bakery

· Fitness Warehouse

· Graham Barker, Strategic Communications Consultant

· Industrial Park Café

· McCOR Management, Audrey Kuehn

· Robin’s Donuts, Rochdale

· Yens Pederson, NDP MLA Regina Northeast

· Trent Wotherspoon, NDP MLA Regina Rosemont

For discounts on food and services:

· Butcher's Best

· KFC, 565 Albert Street

· Nimbus Water

· Schmitty’s Smoked Meats and Catering

· Western Pizza, Rochdale

· Kristen Lamond-McRae: Save $20 on massage for locked out workers at www.spacantik.ca

· Pur Indulgence Salon: Save 20% on haircuts. 306-949-1995 or [email protected]

· Subway, MacDonald Street Location: 20% discount on subs for locked out workers

For the excellent service:

· A-1 rentals

· Allied Printers & Promotions

· Regina Minuteman Press

· Superior Propane

· Wireless Age

Thanks to our union sisters and brothers for showing up on the line, day and night, with food or not, you always lift our spirits and remind us that we aren’t in this alone; we have a whole family backing us up.

· COPE 397

· IBEW 2038

· PSAC 40005 Casino Regina workers

· Saskatoon Firefighters Union Local 80

· SGEU

· Teamsters 2067

· Unifor 1-S, for the $600 donation to the Canadian Cancer Society on our behalf

· Unifor 2-S

· Unifor 649

· UCTE L40403 Regina Airport

To all Unifor 594 retirees that donated time, energy, money and food, we so value your solidarity in what should be the relaxing days of your working career.

An up to date version will be on the website at: Supporters & Donors

Member Quote of the Month

"I’ve learned more about plant operations and the challenges that other shops face in the last 4 days then I learned in the previous 10 years at the refinery. So thank you Federated Co-op for building a comradery and bonding with other people around the plant I never would have even spoken with before. When we get through this, we will be stronger than we ever were before as than we ever were before as a unionized workforce." - Dave Bladyko

Are you interested in sporting Unifor 594 Swag?

Check out our list of swag at:

www.unifor594.com