Share
In the competitive and complex fishing sector, smaller inshore fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador face constant pressure from huge multinational seafood corporations looking for profits above all else. FFAW-Unifor celebrated a victory after their bold act of solidarity protected their livelihoods.
On September 8 and 9, a vessel from St. Pierre and Miquelon attempted to land sea cucumber at a discounted price of $0.50 per pound in Grand Bank, N.L., undercutting the price of $0.69 per pound set by a provincial pricing panel, effectively FFAW-Unifor fish harvester members’ collective agreement.
Amid high demand for sea cucumber, FFAW-Unifor had repeatedly called out the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) member companies, particularly Quinsea and Royal Greenland, for their blatant refusal to pay the panel-set price of $0.69 per pound, undermining Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters and engaging in what amounts to an illegal lockout.
In a powerful display of solidarity, FFAW members gathered at the wharf in Grand Bank, refusing to allow the vessel to offload its product. Facing this resolute opposition, the St. Pierre and Miquelon vessel was forced to leave without landing its sea cucumber.
“FFAW members prove time and again that our solidarity is our strength and we won’t back down,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “Congratulations to FFAW-Unifor, to President Dwan Street, and to everyone on the wharf who demonstrated leadership to face down a foreign vessel trying to cheat the system and our local fish harvesters.”
The unified action by FFAW members sent a clear message: Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters will not tolerate attempts to undermine their livelihoods or the fair pricing established through the collective bargaining process.
“This is a tremendous win for our harvesters and coastal communities,” said FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “By standing together, our members have shown that we will not allow foreign interests to exploit our fishery or erode the fair market practices we’ve fought for. This victory reinforces the strength of our collective resolve.”
This predatory behavior is part of a disturbing pattern of bad faith actions by Royal Greenland, a crown corporation of the Government of Denmark, which continues to prioritize profits over the livelihoods of Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal communities.
Prior to this stand-off, smaller processing companies, initially willing to purchase sea cucumber at the panel-set price, had abruptly reversed their stance, raising serious concerns about collusion and pressure from larger ASP members like Quinsea/Royal Greenland. Such actions signal illegal activity and a deliberate attempt to suppress fair market practices, further threatening the sustainability of the inshore fishery.
“The victory of one vessel unable to land their underpriced catch is a signal to all others out there that we will not be cheated out of our own fishery — Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters demand and defend fairness in our home sector,” said Murray.
FFAW-Unifor remains dedicated to protecting the rights of Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters and calls on the provincial government to investigate anti-competitive practices by companies attempting to bypass panel-set prices. The union reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that fish processing licenses prioritize the well-being of local harvesters, plant workers, and rural communities.
With files from FFAW-Unifor.
