Elections Information for Candidates and Members
The Union is in the midst of the 2024-2027 Executive Board elections process. All up-to-date information on candidates for all seats will be found on this page.
As we undergo the elections process for the 2024-2027 Executive Board, here is some important information about how our elections are conducted.
Elections FAQs
Why are the ballots on the same page?
Ballots were designed to ensure ease of mailing and returning. To allow ballots to fit into one envelope, ballots are printed on a single page. These will be cut to separate in the presence of the auditors, elections committee and scrutineers on counting day, before they are counted. Each ballot is clearly identified with a heading – stating which position the candidates are running for.
Reminder, that multiple ballot sheets CANNOT be combined into one return envelope, and that if this occurs all ballots within will be deemed spoiled.
What security features are on the ballots?
The ballots are printed via a third party print company (Saltwire) that used a specially ordered security ink and watermark. This ink cannot be replicated or duplicated, nor can the watermark be photocopied. This ink has been used previously on election ballots and is distinctly different than regular blue printer ink when compared in person.
The return envelope also contains security features to prevent seeing through, and the Canada Post indica cannot be duplicated without authorization.
Where is the PO Box?
The PO Box on the ballot return envelope is not the FFAW’s PO Box.
The PO Box is held by third party auditors Quinlan Boland and Barrett specifically for the purpose of this election. No staff or volunteer or representative of the FFAW has access to this PO Box.
Why aren’t the ballots numbered?
Secret ballots are never numbered in any election, to ensure secrecy of those casting their votes. The ballots were printed in accordance with the Constitution, via a third party and with oversight of the elected Elections Committee.
How were ballots created?
Ballot packages were created according to regional membership lists. All members vote for president, while each sector votes for their respective VP, and each member also has a regional or sector representative. In the case of the third ballot, some seats were filled by acclamation while others did not receive any nominees by the deadline. Hence why some ballot packages do not contain the third ballot (see below for full list of acclaimed and extended nominations).
Internally, administrative staff pulled and sorted all members in good standing according to these ballot packages.
In total, 6 ballot packages were created to cover off all 16 seats and 14 potential regions/sectors. Ballots were mailed to nearly 9000 members in good standing direct from the Saltwire facility in St. John’s.
1)
President
VP Inshore
N/A
2)
President
VP, Inshore
Inshore, Avalon
3)
President
VP, Inshore
NE Coast
4)
President
VP, IRO
N/A
5)
President
VP, IRO
IRO, Fish Plant Worker Cape Freels to Cape Pine
6)
President
VP IRO
IRO, Non-Fishing
Which Seats Were Acclaimed or Received Extended Nomination Periods?
Acclaimed Positions (not contested)
- Secretary Treasurer: Jason Spingle
- IRO At Sea Offshore: Steve Buffett
- IRO Women’s Position: Flora Mills
- Inshore West and South West Coasts: Kevin Hardy
- Inshore, Crew Position: Lee Melindy
Nomination Period Extneded to June 21 (Ballots to be mailed separate from main election)
- IRO, Fish Plant Worker Cape Pine to Cox’s Cove
- IRO, Fish Plant Worker Labrador, Northeast Coast from Jackson Arm to Cape Freels North
- Inshore, Northern Peninsula and Labrador
The Inshore Women’s Position will be voted on the Convention floor in November.
How to I fill out and submit my ballots?
A comprehensive video is pinned to the top of our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ffawunifor, or you can also view the video here.
I have more concerns about the election.
Please contact the Elections Committee Chair, Mark Dolomount, at elections@ffaw.ca.
CONFIRMATION OF CANDIDATES FOR 2024 EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTION
On May 28, 2024, the FFAW-Unifor Elections Committee convened to review and confirm nominees for the 2024 Executive Board election, for a total of 16 possible board seats. The results are as follows:
PRESIDENT
1. Dave Callahan
2. Abe Solberg
3. Dwan Street
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Jason Spingle (acclaimed)
🔴IRO SECTOR (7 SEATS):
VICE PRESIDENT INDUSTRIAL RETAIL OFFSHORE
1. Brenda King (Icewater)
2. Doretta Strickland (OCI Triton)
BOARD MEMBER, FISH PLANT WORKER FROM CAPE FREELS SOUTH TO CAPE PINE
1. Patsy Chaulk (Beothic Fish Processors Ltd.)
2. Sheila Howell (Beothic Fish Processors Ltd.)
BOARD MEMBER, FISH PLANT WORKER FROM CAPE PINE WEST TO COX’S COVE
No nominees received. Nomination period extended for 30 days, closing on Friday, June 21, 2024.
BOARD MEMBER, FISH PLANT WORKER FROM LABRADOR, THE NORTHERN PENINSULA, AND NORTHEAST COAST FROM JACKSON’S ARM TO CAPE FREELS NORTH
No nominees received. Nomination period extended for 30 days, closing on Friday, June 21, 2024.
BOARD MEMBER, NON-FISHING
1. Darren Melindy (Cahill)
2. Sheldon Squibb (Harbour Grace Cold Storage)
BOARD MEMBER, AT-SEA OFFSHORE
Stephen Buffet (Altera) (acclaimed)
BOARD MEMBER, WOMEN’S POSITION
Flora Mills (Notre Dame Seafoods) (acclaimed)
🔵INSHORE SECTOR (7 SEATS)
VICE PRESIDENT INSHORE
1. Anthony Doyle
2. Lloyd Gaslard
3. Trevor Jones
4. Jason Sullivan
5. Glen Winslow
BOARD MEMBER, AVALON, SWIFT CURRENT TO SUNNYSIDE
1. Ivan Lear
2. Alvin Petten
3. Henry Thorne
BOARD MEMBER, NORTHEAST COAST, SOUTHPORT TO JACKSON’S ARM
1. Glen Newbury
2. Eldred Woodford
BOARD MEMBER, NORTHERN PENINSULA AND LABRADOR, HARBOUR DEEP TO NORRIS ARM PLUS LABRADOR
No nominees received. Nomination period extended for 30 days, closing on Friday, June 21, 2024.
BOARD MEMBER, WEST AND SOUTHWEST COASTS, WOODY POINT TO MONKSTOWN
Kevin Hardy (acclaimed)
BOARD MEMBER, WOMEN’S POSITION*
1. Nancy Bowers
2. Linda Woodford
(No mailed ballots; to be voted on the Convention floor)
BOARD MEMBER, CREW POSITION
Lee Melindy (acclaimed)
VOTING INFORMATION
THIRD-PARTY AUDITED
FFAW Elections are conducted per the Union’s Constitution. Executive Board elections are conducted by mailed secret ballot*. Returned ballots are mailed directly to a third-party auditor, Quinlan, Boland & Barrett, in St. John’s. All ballots are kept by this firm until the date they are counted by the Elections Committee, in the presence of a representative from Quinlan, Boland & Barrett, as well as scrutineers of the candidates.
NOMINATION PERIOD CLOSED
The nomination period closed on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Nominations will be reviewed by the Elections Committee on Monday, May 27, 2024. Candidates were publicly announced following this meeting, above. The nomination period has been automatically extended for 30 days for seats where no nominations were received, and if multiple nominations are received during this period, voting will take placing separately for these seats.
MAILED BALLOTS
Ballots with pre-stamped return envelops will be mailed to all members no later than June 18, 2024. All ballots must be received to the return address in the provided envelopes no later than July 19, 2024.
RESULTS BY JULY 25TH
Ballots will be tallied on July 24, 2024, and results are announced within 24 hours. 2024-2027 Executive Board members will be installed on November 19, 2024, at the 14th Constitutional Convention.
NO UNION FUNDS FOR CAMPAIGNING
Candidates are not to use FFAW funds for campaign purposes and any candidate suspected of doing so should be reported to the Director of Public Affairs, Courtney Glode, at cglode@ffaw.ca or by calling 709-576-7276.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 2024 ELECTION
BALLOTS ARE NOW IN THE MAIL
Ballots for the 2024 executive board election have now been mailed to all members in good standing.
Thousands of these packages are being sent to members all over the province, so please allow a few days for these to make their way through the Canada Post system.
If you don’t receive your ballot within the next week, please ensure you contact the St. John’s Office at 709-576-7276 to verify your information.
WHAT’S INSIDE YOUR BALLOT PACKAGE
Inside your voting package you will find a single ballot sheet, voting instructions, and a return envelope.
Several positions are contested this election, and this means some members will be receiving up to 3 ballots to return. All members will receive ballots for the President and VP position, however there could be a blank ballot if the regional position in your area was acclaimed, or no nominations were received.
For areas that had no nominees, the nomination period was extended for 30 days and ballots for those positions, if required, will be sent separately in the coming weeks.
All ballots are on a single sheet and are to remain on the single sheet when they are returned.
HOW TO RETURN YOUR BALLOTS
To return your ballot, you will mark an X clearly next to your selected candidate for each position you are eligible to vote for.
Once you complete all ballots, you can refold the ballot sheet and place it into the pre-stamped return envelope. No need to cut or separate the individual ballots.
It’s very important that each member return their ballots separately, and any combined ballots will be declared spoiled.
Family members, husbands and wives, ensure you use the separate provided envelopes to return your ballots.
Please keep an eye out for your election package in the mail and make sure you return your ballot in the mail in the coming days.
And again, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the St Johns Office at 709-576-7276.
PLURAL MAJORITY
Per the Constitution, the candidate who gets the most votes (plurality) is declared the winner.
MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!
Our Union is a democratically run organization that relies on volunteer leaders to connect and engage throughout the province, in all sectors and fleets.
FFAW Elections have historically low voter turnout. Ensure you have your say by participating in the voting process this election.
VOTING ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR
*Per the Constitution (Article V Sections 3-4), Women’s Representatives (Inshore and IRO seats) and the Crew Member representative are elected on the Convention floor. Only women in attendance at the Convention that are members of the IRO division shall be eligible to vote for the IRO Women’s Representatives on the Executive Board, and only women in attendance at the Convention that are members of the Inshore division shall be eligible to vote for the Inshore Women’s Representatives on the Executive Board. Only crew members in attendance at the Convention shall be eligible to vote for the Crew Member representative on the Executive Board.