Demonstrations for Unfair Price Setting Process in St. John’s and Corner Brook

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FFAW members holding a rally in St. John's.
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Nearly one thousand fish harvesters and community supporters gathered in St. John’s and Corner Brook on Monday to call attention to the unfair price setting process in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

For years, FFAW-Unifor has been asking the provincial government to move forward with policies that would hold processing companies more accountable and to increase competition in fish processing. We have demanded:

  • The issuance of more processing licenses, particularly in crab, to companies that do not already hold crab licenses. The province has blocked our efforts at the Fish Processing Licensing Board.
  • Pass legislation capping the growth of the big 5 processing companies at current levels. This has been ignored.
  • For a second price reconsideration that allows for prices to harvesters to be adjusted to the market since there is no wharf competition. We have been told this is not happening.
  • More transparency from the processing sector to provide more fairness in collective bargaining. This request was ignored. 
  • That the province provide support on their end to crack down on illegal control of inshore fishing licenses. This, too, was ignored. 

Rally supporters called out Premier Andrew Furey, Minister of Fisheries, Derrick Bragg, and Minister of Labour, Bernard Davis, for the complete lack of progression on important fisheries issues. The Union is also demanding outside buyers be allowed access to the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab market as a result of the oligarchy that has eliminated competition in the industry. 

To the utter dismay of attendees, Minister Bragg took the podium and instead of empathizing with constituents, Bragg lambasted fish harvesters and attempted to drive a wedge between the two sectors the union represents (fish harvesters and plan workers). Rather than come with solutions and a willingness to work together, Bragg insulted fish harvesters and displayed complete ignorance towards the critical issues facing the fishery. 

FFAW-Unifor is awaiting a response from Premier Furey and without expeditious movement on the important issues facing the industry, FFAW members may be back on the government’s doorstep before long.