FFAW Commends Minister Byrne for Commitment to Free Enterprise and New Opportunities
April 8, 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food & Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) is applauding provincial Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Gerry Byrne for his recent decisions that demonstrate a commitment to supporting free enterprise and the vitality of Newfoundland and Labrador’s owner-operator fishing industry. The Union welcomed the Minister’s decision to delay the snow crab pricing panel date, providing much-needed flexibility for harvesters and industry stakeholders during a challenging time.
“Minister Byrne’s actions reflect an understanding of the complexities facing our fishery,” said FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Jason Spingle. “Delaying the panel date ensures that harvesters have a strong voice in the pricing process, while the commitment to maintaining a crab processing operation in Glovertown signals a forward-thinking eye on our industry’s future. These steps align with our long-standing call for increased competition and opportunities that benefit workers and harvesters alike.”
FFAW is raising concerns about further corporate concentration in the processing industry, and is pleased that Minister Byrne is committed to protecting the license for new entrants in the industry. The temporary approval for OCI to operate the Glovertown plant will allow a new company to apply for the license next year, protecting the industry from further corporate control and a further degradation in competition.
“Free enterprise thrives on competition and choice, not on handing more control to a single corporate entity. We saw in 2024 the huge impact a small amount of competition can have for the protection of fish harvesters. Those gains must be protected and advanced into the future,” Spingle warned.
FFAW-Unifor remains committed to working with the provincial government to advance a fishery that supports fair pricing, job creation, and equitable opportunities.