In a news release Wednesday, FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary said Goodland has a proven track record, pointing to his successful representation of scallop fishermen in the Strait of Belle Isle in a case against the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) union last year.
FISH-NL presented its application Dec. 30, requesting that the organization be certified to represent the province’s inshore fish harvesters, splitting from the FFAW.
The application was released to the FFAW on Monday, giving the union and fish processors 10 days to respond. FISH-NL will then have five days to reply in turn.
Once that part of the process is complete, the Labour Relations Board will investigate the application and the membership cards.
The FISH-NL news release said the investigation could take “weeks or months.”
A report will then be issued and FISH-NL will have two days to respond before the final report is released.