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FFAW Keeps Pressure on Government for Benefits Extension

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FFAW Keeps Pressure on Government for Benefits Extension
May 2, 2019
05/02/2019

On April 18, FFAW-Unifor submitted a formal request to Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, to extend Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to fish harvesters in our province impacted by the delayed opening of the fishery due to severe ice conditions.

While a response has not yet been received, your Union has been in close communication with Minister Seamus O’Regan’s office as well as with other members of the Newfoundland Caucus.

We will continue to ensure federal representatives understand the hardship inshore harvesters are experiencing as a result of delays to the snow crab and lobster fisheries.

Delays as a result of ice conditions are a common occurrence for many employed in the fishery. A permanent solution with no waiting period is needed for all workersaffected by these delays.

Hundreds of families are currently impacted and as ice conditions persist this number is expected to rise. We will provide an update to members when available.

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Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.