Wall demands end to crop insurance strike
CBC News
Posted: Jun 22, 2011 12:02 PM CST
Last Updated: Jun 22, 2011 1:20 PM CST
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, shown speaking to reporters in Weyburn earlier this week, is demanding that striking crop insurance workers go back to work. (Adam Hunter/CBC)Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has sent a warning to the union representing striking crop insurance workers — get back to work, or else.
On Tuesday, more than 400 Crop Insurance Corp. workers represented by the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union walked off the job to underline their contract demands.
The strike comes at a time when many farmers are struggling to put a crop in the field, particularly in the flood-ravaged southeast.
In a letter to SGEU president Bob Bymoen that was released to the media, Wall called the decision to go on strike at this time "deplorable" and "appalling."
"The union leadership needs to reverse this decision," Wall told reporters at the legislature Wednesday. "They need to do the right thing and call off this strike."
Wall vowed the government will "take action" if that doesn't happen in 24 hours, but didn't say what kind of action he would take.
Asked in a CBC Morning Edition interview if the government would order the employees back to work, Wall said he wouldn't answer that now.
It's not the first clash between the Saskatchewan Party government and unions.
Labour groups were furious when the government passed essential services legislation, which places limits on how many government workers and health care workers can go on strike.
Wednesday's letter was arguably the harshest criticism Wall has made against a union in the middle of a contract dispute.
SGEU, which said Tuesday it has been forced to take a stand to get a fair deal from the government. Bymoen was not immediately available to respond to Wall's letter.
Strikers assisting flood victims, union says
In a news release Wednesday, the union said striking crop insurance workers in Estevan and Weyburn have volunteered to assist in local flood relief efforts.
“We are part of these communities, and, with extreme weather conditions threatening homes and livelihoods, we want to lend a hand where we can,” Alan Evans, the chair of the union's negotiating committee said in a news release.
“The decision to withdraw services was a difficult one for us to make. We have a great deal of concern for the well-being of farm families," Evans said. "After all, many of us are farmers, or have farm connections and live in rural communities.
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