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LABOUR STRIFE

Alberta justice minister expects union to obey injunction against blockade

Feb 9, 2020 | 8:49 AM

CARSELAND, AB – Alberta’s justice minister said Saturday that he expects protesters who have barricaded a fuel distribution terminal southeast of Calgary as part of a labour dispute in Saskatchewan to obey new enforcement provisions that were added to a court injunction against the demonstration.

Doug Schweitzer had already said he expected RCMP to enforce a ruling from the Court of Queen’s Bench, which granted Federated Co-operatives Ltd.’s request for an injunction Thursday against a blockade at its terminal in Carseland.

On Saturday, Schweitzer noted in a news release that the injunction has since been varied to include police enforcement provisions, and that his government “expects that the law will now be followed.”

The company has been going to court to stop Unifor members from setting up blockades at its facilities including its Regina refinery, where workers have been locked out since December.

Thursday’s order said Unifor was not to impede traffic at the Carseland site, obstruct or harass customers, trespass, picket or congregate within five metres of any access, watch employees or contractors or intimidate, but the company says the blockade remains.

Justice G.A. Campbell added enforcement provisions Friday that authorize peace officers to arrest anyone who contravenes the injunction, and also allows the company to remove people, objects or vehicles from blocking the facility if they remain by noon Sunday.

(The Canadian Press)