August 25, 2023
ST. ANTHONY, NL – Today, FFAW-Unifor hosted a demonstration in support of St. Anthony Seafoods plant workers who are being mistreated by their employer, Royal Greenland. The event stems from continued mistreatment by plant manager, Stedman Letto, who refuses to follow basic Canadian Labour Standards and continually violates the established Collective Agreement.
“Royal Greenland is not operating in a moral or ethical manner when it comes to the treatment of their plant workers,” says FFAW-Unifor President Greg Pretty. “Someone with this track record should not be allowed to remain in this position. Our formal requests have been rejected by Royal Greenland and instead of finding ways we can resolve this problem, they’ve taken steps to remove Union presence in the processing plant,” he explains.
In 2021, with Letto as plant manager, there were approximately 15 grievances filed at St. Anthony Seafoods – four of which were processed to arbitration. Letto was removed from the plant in 2022, and during that season there were zero grievances filed by the Union with workers reporting a very positive working season. Thus far in 2023 since Letto’s return, the Union has filed five grievances. Royal Greenland continues to be in violation of Occupational Health and Safety legislation by refusing to provide the Union with a copy of the company’s anti-harassment policy.
“Workers are being intimidated to the point they are fearful to be seen communicating with union representatives. It’s completely unacceptable to terrorize human beings in the manner that Royal Greenland is currently doing. If Royal Greenland won’t step in and fix management at this plant, then our provincial government must. I will personally be following up with Minister Elvis Loveless and Minister Bernard Davis to address this company’s actions,” Pretty says.
“Plant workers feel a renewed sense of optimism and solidarity after today,” says plant chair Trudy Byrne. “Royal Greenland needs to know that we will not be silenced, today is only the beginning, and we will not give up until all workers at St. Anthony Seafoods are treated with the fairness and dignity that they deserve,” Byrne concludes.
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