SNOW CRAB REBATE UPDATE

This morning, FFAW President Dwan Street, Inshore Director Sherry Glynn and crab negotiating committee member Glen Winslow met with provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Loyola O’Driscoll, Deputy Minister Jamie Chippett, and ADM Scott Jones.

We laid out our position on the calculation of the settlement price:

– The Panel selected our offer in April.
-Our offer was clear in that it includes all 5-8 oz sections.
– The chair of the Panel effectively re-wrote the Panel decision on Friday in stating that only 30 lb bulk boxes are to be used in the calculation of the settlement price.

Following today’s meeting, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department were in communication with the Department of Labour and we are awaiting a response (the labour department is responsible for collective bargaining, the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act, and the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel).

Harvesters sold their crab to companies under the collective agreement that was put in place by the Panel and the terms of that contract must not be changed.

The April decision and the integrity of the Final Offer Selection process must be upheld. We will not accept new terms being added at the 11th hour.

While we await a response from Labour, harvesters’ money is sitting in the bank accounts of fish companies accruing interest.

Updates will provided when available.