The FFAW and seafood producers may not agree on the price for crab, or much else really. But they both condemn threats against harvesters who might want to fish for $2.20 a pound, but fear the repercussions.
The union says the majority can’t and won’t fish for that, while the Association of Seafood Producers says they can’t afford to delay any longer.
Still, ASP executive director Jeff Loder says the online threats are crossing the line.
ASP Executive Director Jeff Loder
“There’s no place for that in any workplace under any circumstances in 2023,’ says Loder. “There’s thousands of Newfoundlanders right now who can go on social media and see this and have seen it, and it’s probably more than thousands. It is a protected right of every individual harvester to make their own decision whether they fish or not, and any behaviour from one harvester to another impacting that is inappropriate.”
FFAW president Greg Pretty says union staff, the bargaining committee and inshore council members have also been threatened during the dispute.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous in this day and age that people have a way of dealing with individuals who don’t necessarily believe what’s going on or have faith in the bargaining committee or the union,” said Pretty. “We’ve been threatened as a union. This place you’re sitting in was firebombed a couple of years ago—you might remember that. So when I get a threat, whether it be against staff or council or bargaining committees, I take it very seriously.”
Also yesterday, the FFAW rejected ASP’s offer to lock in the price for 21 days before seeking a reconsideration. Pretty called that a recipe for disaster, questioning what happens once that three-week period expires.
The union is now calling on government to get directly involved in resolving the dispute.
