More court documents will be filed today on behalf of Come By Chance refinery workers who were laid off last year as a result of the pandemic.
Almost a dozen separate lawsuits have been filed against North Atlantic Refining for wrongful dismissal.
They seek hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, alleging longtime workers were sent home without proper notice or severance pay.
It’s all a result of the idling of the refinery a year ago as world energy markets and demand for fuels tanked.
(File photo.)
St. John’s lawyer Kyle Rees is leading the lawsuits. He says many of the people worked at the refinery for more than 20 years, while others have been there since the beginning.
Rees claims they’re owed pay in lieu of notice—otherwise known as severance—after they were unceremoniously laid off last March due to the pandemic.
Rees says he’s aware defence statements have been filed in response that allude to the company’s hands being tied due to COVID-19. Ultimately, he says, the hope is a new owner or operator will be found for the refinery that could reduce amounts being sought.
In the meantime, the refinery remains in so-called warm idle thanks to more than $16-million in the way of a non-repayable grant from the province.
