MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Calls for Transparency and Accountability in Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centre 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street is calling for the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centre (FRC) to operate with transparency and accountability. The FRC, a nonprofit governed by a board of directors providing dockside monitoring services to fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador, has refused to call a board meeting and provide members with important information regarding the organization’s operations.

“Our elected Inshore Council has been calling for increased transparency and accountability regarding the boards our Union participates on,” says President Dwan Street. “Specifically, they’ve asked us to ensure board seats are representative of the current industry and elected leadership. Despite repeated attempts to engage the FRC over the last year, Executive Director Velma Pike and Chair Bill Broderick refuse to be transparent about their operations,” Street explains.

The process with the FRC began last spring when the previous Union president and an FRC board member requested information on the board appointment process and by-laws of the FRC, of which the FFAW is entitled to 5 of 11 total board seats. Since then, the FRC has refused to engage with the Union and has conducted all communication through their legal representation.

“The FRC has not allowed the FFAW to reappoint new board members or hold a meeting to discuss the FRC’s operations and financial situation,” Street says. “We’ve asked for a meeting and have been ignored, and we’re concerned that this organization may no longer be operating in the best interests of fish harvesters. All we want is an open and honest conversation so that we can report back to our Inshore Council,” Street explains.

Street wrote Pike and Broderick in December notifying of new appointments and requesting an urgent board meeting. Pike notified that the correspondence had been sent to their lawyer for response, and no meeting has been scheduled. 

“This is not acceptable behaviour to me or any person on the FFAW’s Executive Board. We hope that public pressure will be the impetus needed to push Pike and Broderick to do the right thing and ensure that fish harvesters can continue to put their trust in the FRC. We need a meeting with the board – this cannot wait any longer,” Street concludes.