Fisheries and Land Resources
June 19, 2017
Minister Crocker, FFAW-Unifor Form Delegation to Secure Federal Ice Compensation for Plant Workers
The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) have formed a delegation to secure viable federal compensation for fish plant workers affected by severe ice conditions.
The delegation will meet today with the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, to discuss the inclusion of plant workers in federal emergency ice compensation. A meeting with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federal Caucus is also scheduled.
Earlier this month, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced $5 million in emergency funding to offset losses experienced by fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec as a result of severe sea ice conditions.
Minister Crocker and members of the FFAW-Unifor have travelled to Ottawa to reiterate the necessity of providing sufficient relief for plant workers, as they are equally impacted.
Quotes
"I have been advocating since April that support must include both harvesters and plant workers. We are pleased that the Government of Canada has recognized the severity of the ice conditions this year with compensation for fish harvesters, but it is vital that all workers impacted receive viable support as well. They are equally affected by these extreme circumstances and it is of the utmost importance that we deliver that message to Ottawa."
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
"The federal government has the responsibility to assist both harvesters and plant workers who are unable to work due to severe and persisting ice conditions. Plant workers and fish harvesters are equally affected. We thank the federal government for assisting impacted harvesters, however Ottawa must take action to also support plant workers. These families have been without income for over two months by no fault of their own, experiencing some of the worst ice conditions we’ve seen in recent memory."
Keith Sullivan
President, FFAW-Unifor
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Learn more
April 20, 2017 letter to Government of Canada - www.fishaq.gov.nl.ca/pdf/letter.pdf 
News release on ice conditions - www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/ffa/0421n02.aspx
FFAW-Unifor - www.ffaw.nf.ca 
Fisheries and Land Resources - www.flr.gov.nl.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @FLR_GovNL
Media contacts
Rod Drover
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-729-3783, 730-4607
rodneycdrover@gov.nl.ca
Courtney Glode
FFAW-Unifor
709-576-7276, 743-4445
cglode@ffaw.net
2017 06 19 3:35 p.m.