What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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An official from the union that represents workers at the Cory potash mine isn’t too concerned about the effect the B.C. port workers’ strike could have on Nutrien employees at the Saskatchewan mine.
On Tuesday, Nutrien announced it was was curtailing production at the potash mine southwest of Saskatoon because of the strike. After the announcement, the company said it doesn’t anticipate that reduction in production would result in any layoffs.
Scott Lunny, the director for Western Canada for the United Steelworkers, explained while it’s a disruption for his workers, he said dealing with issues like this is nothing new for them.
“At this stage, (the strike) is a disruption in the supply chain, but there’s lots of disruptions in the supply chain lately,” Lunny said Wednesday. “I think it’s something that shouldn’t have a long-term impact.”
He’s confident the bargaining process between the two sides of the B.C. strike will sort itself out.
“The bargaining process works. Sometimes there’s an inability to get to an agreement right away at the table and there needs to be some other pressure put on,” Lunny said.
“That’s all that’s happening at the port. I don’t think people should get alarmed or panicked; the bargaining process works and I suspect they’re going to come to a resolve in the near term and it won’t have a long-term impact on anybody.
“(The curtailing of production) is a short-term response to an issue in the supply chain and that happens,” Lunny added. “It can be rail, it can be port, it can be actual production facilities where there might be a challenge in the short term. I don’t think this is a long-term concern.”
Lunny suggests a deal between the two sides of the B.C. labour situation could be reached soon.
“My understanding is there’s potential movement in the dispute and there could be a mediator recommendation,” he said. “We’re hopeful a negotiated settlement will be reached and things will get back to normal at the port. At the meantime, we support the workers and their efforts to get a fair collective agreement.”
According to The Canadian Press, a source close to the negotiations said both sides have received the terms of a settlement recommended by a federal mediator that could end the 12-day-old stoppage.
The delivery of the terms comes after federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan late Tuesday instructed the mediator to send him the terms within 24 hours so he could forward them to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association.
The two sides have 24 hours upon receiving the recommendations to decide whether or not to ratify the agreement.
British Columbia business groups are continuing to call for federal back-to-work legislation to end the strike involving 7,400 dock workers at more than 30 ports.
— With files from The Canadian Press