Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Fisheries and Aquaculture
December 11, 2006

Amendments Will Bring Further Stability to Fishery

The Honourable Paul Shelley, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, and the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today said that amendments to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act will bring further stability to the province�s fishing industry. The amendments will be introduced at second reading of Bill 69, An Act to Amend the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act, during today�s sitting of the House of Assembly.

"As minister responsible for Labour Relations, I am pleased to be bringing these amendments forward," said Minister Shelley. "A solid collective bargaining regime is important in any industry and these changes will ensure we continue to strengthen the collective bargaining process in the fishing industry."

"The Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act is very important to the fishery, as issues related to price have historically led to disputes. This has come at the detriment of the industry and all those who are depending on it. Therefore, an effective collective bargaining regime is essential to promoting and maintaining the stability of the industry," said Minister Rideout.

The mandatory Final Offer Selection (FOS) system is still in place. Both ministers have called on the processor associations and the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) to show the necessary leadership to develop, in conjunction with the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel, the shared understandings and rules of procedure which will promote more effective bargaining. However, under the new legislation, the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment will have the ability to modify the authority of the panel, giving them the flexibility of selecting a different method of arbitration should FOS be deemed ineffectual.

"The 2006 season was a very challenging year for all stakeholders involved in the fishing industry," said Minister Rideout. "Following discussions with the panel, processors and harvesters, we believe there are incremental improvements needed to ensure the panel will fulfil its role of dispute resolution, thereby bringing maximum benefits to the industry as a whole. These changes will assist in providing for an industry that will be better able to respond to global market prices in an efficient manner."

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Media contacts:

Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
Oatesll@gov.nl.ca
 
Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-4062, 728-9623
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca
 

2006 12 11                               2:55 p.m.


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