Committed to safety, refinery owners say after big layoffs

Owners of the Come By Chance refinery say theircommitment to safety will not waver after a big layoffat the company.

• Layoffs will make Come By Chance refinery less safe, union claims

North Atlantic Refining Limited said Friday afternoon that safety at itsoil refinery comes from"appropriate work practices, protocols, and training," something that willnot change after 128 employees walked out the doors.

Last week, leaders of the union representing workers at the Come By Chance operation raised concerns that the exodus would threaten safety. But North Atlantic says nothing will change.

"The refinery's commitment to safety will not waver; safety is a core value of the company and will remain the cornerstone of how the refinery operates, now,and into the future," Dan Harris, the refinery manager, wrote in a statement.

Safety concerns

Layoffs at therefinery,announcedNov. 9,will claim the jobs of 107 unionized employees and at least another 20 managers and non-union workers.

• 'I'm devastated': Oil refinery workers learn their fate as layoff details revealed

Union leaders claimed the layoffs would jeopardize worker safety.

"I'm afraid it's going to cost someone very serious injury or worse. I've seen it before, and I really don't think they're on the right track,"workerBrian Dwyersaid.

There were two high-profileincidents at the site in recent weeks a small explosion that attracted police to the site, and a fire at a caustic tank.

• Refinery blames 'malicious activity' for explosion at Come by Chance
• Fire reported at Come by Chance refinery

But North Atlantic says itsoperation is safer than most.

"We have operated this facility for over 2,000,000 hours without any serious injuries. The injury rate at this Facility is 88% better than the provincial rate," Harris said in a statement.

Retirement program coming

North Atlantic saidit would introduce a retirement incentive program for some employees in an effort to reduce layoffs.

The Pension Incentive Program will provide some workers with an opportunity to retire with a "financial bonus," it said.

"Participation in this program will reduce the number of employees being laid off and assist in achieving the necessary reduction in the workforce," the company wrote.