Unifor vows ‘vigorous’ defence of 14 charged with picket-line mischief
REGINA While charges against 14 people, including Unifor’s national president Jerry Dias, arrested when Regina police moved in at a barricade outside the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) were simply adjourned, plans are afoot for a “vigorous defence.”
Lawyer Thomas Hynes appeared on Wednesday at Regina provincial court for first appearances on behalf of the accused, who were charged with mischief for activities at the picket line outside the refinery on Jan. 20. “We anticipate advancing a vigorous defence and upholding the individuals’ right to protest and picket,” Hynes said.
Charges were set over to March 30 as Hynes said one evidence package has been received from the Crown for one accused and nothing yet for the others, although he expects there to be overlap in evidence between the files.
Judge Noah Evanchuk said he appreciated how straightforward the appearance was given the nature of dealing with 14 charges.
Speaking to reporters outside of court, Hynes said the accused men may be in attendance for the next appearance but said it would depend on what was required.
Dias and 13 other union members were arrested and charged while blocking all but foot traffic access to the refinery on Jan. 20. According to police at that time, Unifor broke “the rules of engagement” set in a court order putting limits on the picket line.
Of the 14 men arrested, eight are from Ontario, four from British Columbia (including Unifor western regional director Gavin Mcgarricle) and two from Regina.
Another four arrests of lockedout refinery workers followed on Feb. 5, when they were charged with mischief and disobeying a court order on the picket line. All four men were released on officer undertakings and are due to make their first court appearances in Regina on March 23.
According to Unifor, those four Local 594 members were arrested by Regina police while “peacefully picketing” at the CRC gates. Regina police said the charges were a result of “enforcement action” and an “ongoing investigation.”
Police said the mischief under $5,000 charge is related to “wilfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.”
The other charge alleges the accused members disobeyed Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Janet Mcmurtry’s injunction order “by impeding, obstructing, or interfering with the ingress or egress to or from the property.”
The refinery’s lockout of Unifor workers began Dec. 5. Both sides have spent the past two weeks meeting with provincially appointed special mediator Vince Ready.