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But tensions quickly rose, with Unifor members alleging dangerous behaviour and verbal threats from truck drivers blocked from accessing the terminal.

“Some of these aggressive truck drivers came and tried to hit our people and some of the small cars that were off to the side (of the road),” said Unifor western regional director Gavin McGarrigle.

“They were swearing. Some of the truck drivers — it wasn’t all of them, but enough that it was a significant concern — were swearing death threats at us, so for the sake of safety we’ve erected the fences.”

In a video shown to Postmedia Network by McGarrigle, a truck is seen blaring its horn and inching toward a car blocking entrance to the facility. The driver screams, “Move or I’ll crush your car.”

Cam Zimmer, communications and public relations manager with FCL, said he can’t comment on the specific actions of truck drivers.

But he did say he believes the fences at the terminal’s four entrances don’t follow “the rule of law” and that they were erected to impair truck drivers.

“This is barricading in a business and shutting down our right to operate a business, to keep our business going strong,” Zimmer said. “I do find the claim that the fences are for safety very suspect.”

Calgary

Among the picketing workers is Derek Emperingham, who came to Carseland from Regina to take part.

He said picketers have dealt with aggression from drivers in both Regina and here in Alberta.

“One of them was yelling death threats, saying he would intentionally run us over and use us as human bowling pins,” Emperingham said. “We’d rather have the fence hit or run over than a human.”