Talks break off again between union and North Atlantic refining

For the second day in a row, talks have broken off between the union representing workers at the Come By Chance oil refinery and the company that owns it. 

• Union digs in heels over Come By Chance refinery layoffs, North Atlantic complains

In a statement released by North Atlantic Wednesday evening, the company said talks "ended abruptly" when representatives from United Steelworkers local 9316 "refused to consider, or take to their membership, any proposal that included a workforce reduction."

North Atlantic said the workforce at Come By Chance must be reduced to keep the refinery financially viable. 

The owners of the Come By Chance refinery announced plans to lay off 128 workers in November, citing a downturn in the economy and "impending regulatory changes."

2nd failed meeting

The meeting which ended Wednesday was the second meeting this week to have ended without compromise. On Tuesday night, workers and North Atlantic also failed to come to an agreement.

Boyd Bussey, a staff representative with United Steelworkers, said late on Tuesday night that that the company left the bargaining table that night when talks became "bogged down."

North Atlantic said it "remains open to meaningful discussions" to reach an agreement to lessen the impact on affected workers.

No other meetings have been planned between the two sides.