Plant Workers and Other Fishery Workers Demand Federal Support for COVID-19 Impacts
May 15, 2020
Yesterday’s $470 million announcement from Prime Minister Trudeau to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the inshore fishing was welcome news to fish harvesters, but has glaringly left plant workers and other fishery workers out of any support measures. FFAW-Unifor’s Economic Support Proposal, which was sent to government on April 24, included requests for support for plant workers. While the government did provide many of the requests in the proposal for fish harvesters, the Minister’s Office clarified yesterday evening that other fishery workers were not included in the Employment Insurance support that will be given to fish harvesters. This is unacceptable and the federal government must act to provide support these workers who have also been affected by season delays and work reductions due to the pandemic. As a result, many individuals are concerned they will not earn enough qualifying hours for an EI claim to make it through the winter. FFAW-Unifor will continue to call on government to ensure all fishery workers are included in EI support.