The FFAW is urging the federal government to “fix what they’ve broken” by reversing the changes to EI qualifying criteria affecting a large number of seasonal workers.

Union President Greg Pretty says the changes in EI qualifying criteria came once the crab fishery was over, meaning that many plant workers and harvesters had no opportunity to meet the criteria.

That will result in many members going without income this winter.

Pretty says not only do they want the federal government to do something for the seasonal workers affected by last year’s change, but they want to ensure that similar issues don’t happen again.