Unifor 594 has been fined 250-thousand dollars for not obeying a December injunction of limiting delays at the Co-op refinery gates.
A judge in Regina Court of Queen’s Bench had reasonable doubt whether Local 594 President Kevin Bittman encouraged members to disobey the injunction, so Bittman was found not guilty and won’t be given any jail time.
However Vice-President of Local 594, Lance Holowachuk was found guilty of intentionally not allowing a truck driver to proceed into the refinery, and was ordered to 40 hours of community service.
Lawyers for the Co-op Refinery Complex had asked for a 1-million dollar fine for Unifor 594, daily fines of $100-thousand and the threat of jail time for Bittman and one of his vice-presidents if they continued to disobey the injunction.