A group of 20 Irish pipefitters laid off from their jobs outside Saskatoon are grateful for the help they're getting from the local union and the provincial government, but feel they're being "screwed over" by the company that brought them here.
Speaking on behalf of the group Thursday, workers Derek Brennan and Daniel Dunne said they have been left in limbo. The workers were recruited in the spring by Monad Industrial to work on the $1.5-billion expansion at Agrium's Vanscoy potash mine. After signing multi-year contracts to work for about $37 per hour, they were told there had been some unavoidable delays in the construction process. They've been laid off.
A Monad official said Wednesday the workers had been offered positions in Regina for now and will be needed once the work begins at Vanscoy early next year.
The workers declined, saying the company refused to guarantee a minimum of 12 weeks work in Regina and won't guarantee their jobs at Vanscoy for next year.
"They said, 'Come here. Bring your family,'" said Dunne, whose wife and three daughters arrive Tuesday.
"I saw this as an opportunity to have a better life for my family. We've been screwed over."
Most of the men worked for a few weeks before the layoff. Brennan arrived earlier this month, opened a bank account and obtained a social insurance number.
He said he travelled to the mine site for a daylong orientation, but was turned back at the gate after being told there was no work. He said he has not been reimbursed for his flight, as was promised, and no one has apologized.
The workers' lawyer, Leslie Prosser, said the priority is to get the men working, but they are "looking at their legal options."
The men are looking for other jobs and the provincial government is working to ensure their immigration status and ability to work in Saskatchewan are not affected by the turmoil.
The men are looking for other jobs and the provincial government is working to ensure their immigration status and ability to work in Saskatchewan are not affected by the turmoil.
Both men say it would be hard to return to Monad, even with guarantees.
"I'd find it hard to trust them," Dunne said.
Monad spokesperson Mike Long said Wednesday the temporary layoffs of 20 workers were due to unforeseen delays in the company's work at the mine, but they'll be needed soon.
Since the March recruitment drive to Ireland by Saskatchewan government officials and employers, 282 workers have been offered positions.
Premier Brad Wall said from Halifax he was "disappointed" for the workers recruited to Saskatchewan, but praised quick government action to allow the workers the option to take other offers.
Read more: Irish workers feel betrayed
They should have joined UA in the first place.
