The fisheries union doesn’t like the way workers are being treated by Royal Greenland at St. Anthony Seafoods, accusing the company of intimidating employees and forcing them to work for days on end with hardly any days off.

The FFAW and St. Anthony Seafoods began contract talks on Tuesday, but a couple of days later the plant was closed and chained shut.

FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street calls it an unacceptable attempt to pressure workers and undermine negotiations.

James Farrell, a director with the FFAW, says the company is violating labour laws and standards on several fronts.

“The company gave no notification, did not issue layoff notices – they just put a closed sign on the gate,” says Farrell. “We’re demanding accountability from the company.”