Executives of OmniTrax failed to show up in Winnipeg for a planned meeting with union members that would represent laid-off workers for the Port of Churchill.

The in-person meeting was instead changed to a phone meeting after OmniTrax's Chief operating officer said he was prevented from traveling because of an emergency.

A Union bargaining group paid for three members to fly in from Churchill to Winnipeg for Wednesday's meeting.

Even though OmniTrax laid off all of their employees, they are still required to negotiate a new contract as the old one has expired.

This is the second time a meeting has either been cancelled or delayed after OmniTrax cancelled a meeting in July. The two groups have yet to talk face to face since the layoffs.