FFAW Calls on FISH-NL to End Failing Campaign to Represent Harvesters
November 8, 2019
MEDIA RELEASE: FFAW Calls on FISH-NL to End Failing Campaign to Represent Harvesters
November 8, 2019
After nearly four years of a campaign based on lies and misrepresentation, it is time for FISH-NL to end their failing card drive and allow the industry to move forward. FISH-NL’s announcement that they intend to extend their certification drive an additional 90 days past their November 8 deadline is another desperate attempt to find sufficient support from fish harvesters, the majority of whom have repeatedly rejected FISH-NL’s efforts to represent them.
“Fish harvesters are ready to move on from the chaos and division FISH-NL has created in our industry over the past four years,” said FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan. “Continuing to drag out this process does nothing to advance the interests of the fish harvesters FISH-NL wishes to represent.”
No extension to the certification period has been formally requested by FISH-NL nor has the Labour Relations Board granted an extension. FISH-NL’s campaign extension is merely an attempt to revise their own self-imposed deadline to adapt their failing campaign and give themselves more time to garner support that does not exist. FISH-NL initiated their campaign in 2016 with the Labour Relations Board rejecting the group’s first application for a membership vote in late 2018 due to insufficient support.
“In recent weeks, FFAW has heard from harvesters who are concerned their name has been fraudulently signed to a FISH-NL membership card and from members of the public not connected to the fishery who are frustrated with receiving FISH-NL robocalls. It is clear this group has done nothing but create turmoil and unrest in our coastal communities. It is time for FISH-NL to acknowledge they do not have sufficient support and allow fish harvesters to get back to focusing on the critical issues our industry is facing,” said Sullivan.
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For media inquiries, please contact Courtney Glode at cglode@ffaw.net or 709-743-4445.