Fisheries union rallies in St. John's on the doorsteps of industry partners

Snow crab harvesters were on the moveFriday, bringing their protest over the still tied-up fishery to the doorsteps of major industrypartners in St. John's,

Fish, Food & Allied Workersmembers axed a tentative deal tabled a week ago by the Association of Seafood Processorsthatwould have jump-started the stagnant fishery and saw thousands of harvesters back on the water, along with the thousands of processing workers headingback to the plants.

On Friday the FFAW and its members marched on the ASP offices in the east end of St. John's before moving to the officesof Ocean Choice International a locally owned seafood merchant with its own offshore vessels and processing plants.

"This is the most pressure we've had on this industry in my history with the union. This is extreme pressure," FFAW president Greg Pretty told reporters.

"It's also on the companies. I understand they have markets, but we have to fish and we have to make money."

The situation has been heating up this week with both sides meeting on Wednesday to bargain over a "final offer." A deal wasn't struck, and the FFAW and ASP are blaming each other.

Reports of crab harvesters being physically blocked from hitting the water have also been cropping up in communities around the island.

Pretty claims the ASP and other seafood companies are trying to fracture the union. Two members of the FFAW's inshore councilresigned late Thursday night.

"If there's a great threat to theunion, it's not from two guys who left our council. It's from these companies, these fish merchants, who have a tradition of doing this," he said.

"The issue here is we need to get this fishery up and going. We need it. We need the involvement from the province on this."

'Powder keg'

Blaine and Martin Sullivan met the protesters on the doorstep of OCIheadquartersFriday afternoon.

Blaine Sullivan is the president of the multinational seafood company.His brother, Martin, is CEO.

"I believe there's a deal there if the market goes up. There's no question about that," Blaine Sullivan told thegroup of frustrated harvesters.

"I don't like the priceeither. It's low and it's an unfortunate situation. But if some people want to go, why are you so hell-bent on stopping people who want to go?"

OCI has four grandfathered crab licences it leases to four boat owners who catch part of the company's quota.

WATCH | Protesters gather on the doorsteps of seafood producers and vendors:

N.L. snow crab protests

1 year ago

Duration 2:24

FFAW members confront Ocean Choice International owners Blaine and Martin Sullivan outside of the company's offices in St. John's.

Blaine Sullivan said the company doesn't control those harvestersbut at least one has committed to not fishing at current low price.

"I don't know what the other three are going to do. It's up to them. We don't control it. They're independent fishermen who catch some of our quota," he said.

Pretty calledthe situation a "powder keg" that has reached Parliament in Ottawa.

During question period Friday, Tory MP Clifford Small blamed the Liberal government for not convincing trade partners Japan and South Korea to import Canadian crab rather than cheaper Russian crab.

"As a result, the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab fishery is at a standstill," Small said.

Liberal MP MikeKelloway, parliamentary secretary to the minister of fisheries and oceans, said the government is raising those concerns with its trade partners and will "stand up for Canadians."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is leaving for South Korea next week.

International Trade Minister MaryNg said thefishery's challenges and its exportsareon government's radar.

As for the FFAW and ASP, there is no plan to return to the bargaining table in short order. In a press release, the union said harvesters have "expressed a desire to take further political action around the province" next week should a resolution not be found.

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