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Also on Thursday, Scott Doherty, executive assistant to Dias and the lead negotiator, was arrested and charged with mischief, the same charge laid against four other Unifor Local 594 members early Wednesday morning and 13 last month, including Dias. Doherty said he was approached by police earlier in the week but wasn’t able to meet with them until Thursday, as he had retuned to Toronto for a gathering.

“I went down to the station and they processed me and arrested me,” said Doherty. He added that he was not told the specific reason for his charges over the course of being processed and released.

As part of his release conditions, he is not to be within 500 metres of the refinery — one of the the same conditions of release imposed on Dias and others.

Doherty said he feels the police don’t want him around the picket line, and felt that this was another instance of police using heavy handed tactics during the labour dispute in an attempt to change the tactics used by Unifor.

Photo by BRANDON HARDER / Regina Leader-Post

During the dispute police have said their role is de-escalate the situation and keep the peace, but speaking after his arrest Doherty questioned their intentions.

“I mean I don’t know how that’s de-escalating,” said Doherty, speaking about his arrest. Doherty reiterated the union’s position that they are willing to bargain with the Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL). He said not being able to speak to people on the picket line, and members of Local 594 hinders his ability to represent the locked out workers at the bargaining table.