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RESTORING THE RIGHT TO STRIKE: MYTH VS FACT

April 11, 2026 / Media Releases, Member Updates

Getting the right to strike back does not just give harvesters a new weapon – it removes any guaranteed mechanism for a minimum price before fishing starts, exposes harvesters to

Fairness is EVERYTHING: Plant Workers Demand ASP Get Back to Table

April 3, 2026 / Media Releases, Member Updates

Plant Workers Demand Companies Return to Table, Pay Fair Price to Crab Harvesters A successful season for plant workers depends on a fair price for fish harvesters. Year after year,

CRAB NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE: NO CRAB PROCESSED IN NL UNTIL FAIR PRICE

April 1, 2026 / Media Releases, Member Updates

PROCESSORS TORPEDO CRAB TALKS AS PROVINCIAL REFORM FAILS TO CARVE CRAB POLICY AHEAD OF PANEL DEADLINE Following the complete deterioration of good-faith negotiations, crab harvesters are saying there will be

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14,000 working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - a history steeped in the fishing industry.

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2 days ago

🔴🦀SNOW CRAB UPDATE APRIL 11In a brazen attempt to break the Union, ASP stated this afternoon that each harvester should contact their buyer to get their own price to start the season. These were the tactics used in the mid-1990’s that led to multiple and sometimes violent strikes. This is not where we need to be. Going fishing for a price that is not part of a collective agreement gives you zero protection. The processor could drop the price after you have pots in the water, they could pay you that price for the first trip but not subsequent trips, and if you need to file a grievance any settlement could be based on the price currently in place, which is $5.30. This splits the membership between those that can fish now, and those that cannot because of ice conditions; those that have a lot of product to land and those who do not; those who are cozy with their buyer and those who are not. A union is a collective, and this statement by ASP is an attempt to splinter this collective. The average market price last year was determined to be 10.93 CAD, or around 7.81 USD. This resulted in a final price to harvesters of $5.25. This year, that same market price would result in a price to harvesters of $4.69 because the harvester share has dropped from 48% to 43.79% at that market price in the ASP price table. This begs the question: if the fishery proceeded uninterrupted under the higher share to harvesters in 2025, why can’t that same share to harvesters work this year? The crab negotiating committee is trying to achieve fairness for all harvesters and we’re calling on ASP members to come to the table and get this fishery started. Crab fisheries have not started in NB, PEI, or all areas of NS, meaning that there is still time for NL product to be the first to the market. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 days ago

🔴📣RESTORING THE RIGHT TO STRIKE: MYTH VS FACTGetting the right to strike back does not just give harvesters a new weapon - it removes any guaranteed mechanism for a minimum price before fishing starts, exposes harvesters to EI loss during a labour dispute, and gives processors an equal right to lock out. Read this information closely to understand potential consequences.❌ MYTH 1Myth: "Under strike/lockout, a minimum price must be agreed to before buyers can purchase.”Fact: This is false. Only under the current FOS system is a minimum price required. Under strike/lockout, buyers can offer whatever price they want to break a strike or harvesters can sell on open receipt.If agreement is not reached in a strike/lockout scenario, the entire industry will suffer. ❌ MYTH 2Myth: "If a strike is called, harvesters can keep collecting seasonal EI."Fact: Employment Insurance payments will immediately stop if a legal strike is called. ❌ MYTH 3Myth: "If harvesters strike over one species, companies would still have to buy other species as normal."Fact: The right to strike would provide the same benefits to processing companies as it does to harvesters. Processors could refuse to take other species to force an agreement on the one in dispute. Any bargaining leverage gained by fish harvesters would also be gained by ASP companies.❌ MYTH 4Myth: "A legal right to strike would allow harvesters to stop other members from fishing and landing product in NL."Fact: Even in a legal strike situation, the Union cannot lawfully block its own members from fishing or landing product if they choose to ‘cross the picket line’. ❌ MYTH 5Myth: "A legal strike is quick and simple to trigger."Fact: A legal strike requires legislative procedures be followed including a secret ballot strike vote with majority support from those voting. In practice, an official strike process could take up to 3 months complete, costing valuable time in the fishery. ❌ MYTH 6Myth: Members of all other Unions have the right to strike. Fact: Binding arbitration is common in many other complex industries, such as essential workers. These workers cannot legally strike – nor could they simply not go to work during a labour dispute. On the other hand, all fish harvesters under the current system can voluntarily not fish or sell their product to NL harvesters – even without the legal right to strike. ❌ MYTH 7Myth: "Without strike rights, harvesters are powerless."Fact: Under the current framework, prices and conditions of sale are still negotiated through collective bargaining, with unresolved matters decided through a binding process. There is still room to fight for improvements through legislation, regulation, policy reform, grievances, and public pressure, rather than abandoning binding dispute resolution entirely. In the current system, fish harvesters can always choose not to fish - the Union cannot be seen as directing a work stoppage, tie up, or otherwise. The Union can still advocate for members and let harvesters know they can choose not to fish if they find the price too low. 🔴 SUMMARY➡If a legal strike or lockout stops work, EI benefits will be cut off.➡Strike/lockout rights go both ways: processors gain equal power to lock out.➡Strike action is not guaranteed to be limited to one species; other fisheries could be locked out or disrupted.➡Processors can use lockouts as leverage in any dispute.➡The strike process is not immediate; conciliation and voting steps mean weeks or months of procedural delays.➡Losing a binding price setting mechanism risks chaos: delayed openings, lost fisheries, poor quality product, and long-term market damage.➡A legal strike does not give the Union the right to block members from fishing or landing product in Newfoundland and Labrador. ... See MoreSee Less

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