Trucks hauling fluid for Canadian Natural in the region will grind to a halt tomorrow morning as the 300 plus members of the local Truckers United Association are expected to initiate a shutdown to get the attention of CNRL.
Andrew Bykowsky and Peter Turner, representing the truckers' association, told the Journal Tuesday afternoon that CNRL's failure to agree to a face-to-face meeting with them to discuss several issues, with rates being by far and away the biggest concern, leaves them with no alternative but to call members to participate in a stop work protest and essentially shut down the movement of CNRL fluid in the region.
"We are just getting ready for the the shutdown now. We are just in the middle of posting a video to Facebook to let everybody know that 8 a.m. tomorrow is the shut down time," Bykowsky said. "All of the guys in Bonnyville to meet up with Peter at the Co-op cardlock at 8 a.m., all of the guys in Elk Point get them to meet at Proudlove Mechanical shop, and all of the guys in Lloydminster to park right in front of the CNRL office. It's time for us to take that step in forcing their hand."
Bykowsky said owner/operators are being crushed by the cost of living including high fuel prices, insurance, truck payments and repair costs. Fluid haulers were hit with rate cuts of upwards of 30 per cent in 2014 and despite some recovery in oil prices, the truckers rates have not increased.
"I'm hoping for absolutely every truck from the Lloydminster to the Bonnyville area to park. It's time for the guys to stand up and get back what they deserve. Tomorrow morning is going to be the big tell."
Bykowsky said the truckers will be dispersed to public roads heading to CNRL facilities. They won't block traffic flow.
Turner, an activist and lobbyist in the trucking industry, was bought in by the local group to work on the truckers' behalf to negotiate with CNRL for better rates.
Turner vowed the shutdown will last as long as it takes to bring CNRL to the table.
"Most of the truckers here are so deep in debt it's unbelievable and they owe everybody. What CNRL has done is induced a recession in the oilfields that they control and the towns that are within their control. They have basically put these towns into recession."
