MEDIA RELEASE: Price Decision Failure of Panel Mandate, Harvesters Say They Won’t Fish
April 2, 2024
Failure of the Panel & Provincial Collective Bargaining System
The Standing Fish Price Setting Panel has failed the inshore fishery in our province. The Union held a call this afternoon with over 40 crab committee chairs from all over the province to hear representatives’ reactions to the Panel decision last night. Harvesters expressed their inability to fish under the pricing system selected by the Panel, which effectively eliminates their ability to earn a fair market share. Harvesters also expressed their frustration at their legal inability to strike – while companies regularly enjoy the privilege of coordinated lockouts. Fleet chairs are asking all harvesters to respect the respective decisions of each fleet as we deal with this crisis.
Fish harvesters in this province have shown this spring that they will not be told when to fish, how much to fish for, or who they can sell to. Frustrations continue to boil over, and harvesters are dissatisfied with our Provincial government’s handling of the fishing industry.
“Crab harvesters fully understand the importance of their business to their families and their communities. This injustice must be corrected, and we expect that harvesters will support leadership’s position to not fish,” says FFAW-Unifor President Greg Pretty.