The president of the union representing workers on the Terra Nova FPSO says news of an impasse between government and stakeholders took the wind out of him and blew his mind.
Dave Mercer, President of UNIFOR Local 2121, which represents 300 workers on the project, says the union is “very worried” about the situation, and doesn’t understand how they could be “blindsided” at the last minute.
UNIFOR is holding a rally outside Confederation Building Monday morning at 9 a.m. as an emergency debate is held on the future of the project.
He says they have had 13 families, totaling 68 people, who have either lost or sold their homes and left the province because of what has happened.
For Mercer, the message to government is simple: Take the equity stake because in his words it is a “low-risk” investment.
According to Mercer, government can’t take away the Terra Nova FPSO because it affects “all of Newfoundland.” He’s “dumbfounded” as to why government isn’t stepping up to the plate.