GANDER, N.L. — “Which side are you on?”
That is the question FISH-NL will be presenting to the harvesters later this year, as it prepares to move forward with its second push for certification to become a bargaining agent for the province’s fishermen.
This would provide a second option for harvesters, who are currently represented by Fish Food and Allied Works (FFAW-Unifor).
FISH-NL made its intentions clear at their second convention in Gander, Jan. 24.
The purpose of the meeting was to rally its membership and strengthen the constitution, to try and make the certification process as smooth as possible, according president Ryan Cleary, who retained his position after an executive vote.
“It’s about making sure we are ready for the second application for certification, and this convention will set us off on that course,” he said.
In bringing forward its first certification attempt in Nov. 2016, FISH-NL identified 2,372 fishermen ready to become card-carrying members.
However, during the review process, it was determined it didn’t have enough members to trigger a certification vote.
“The first time, in six weeks, we had 2,376 names. Now we have at least three months, we know the rules of the game, our (harvesters) list is a lot more developed, and people are more educated on the issues and what FISH-NL is all about.” — FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary
Membership fell well short of the 40 per cent of provincial harvesters needed, as the FFAW claims there are nearly 10,000 harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The Labour Relations Board decided anybody with a fish sale in their name, with dues automatically deducted by the FFAW is an inshore harvester,” he said. “It’s not reality; just because you have a fish sale in your name, are you fisherman or fisherwoman? The answer is absolutely no.”
But Cleary said they will follow the outlined terms, and FISH-NL will seek 5,000 members to surpass the 40 per cent requirement.
It now has between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 of this year to submit its certification application.
Cleary said a decision on a submission date hasn’t been made yet, but added only cards signed up to three months prior the submission date will be accepted.
It’s a timeframe that has him feeling confident the second go around will be a success.
“The first time, in six weeks, we had 2,376 names,” he said. “Now we have at least three months, we know the rules of the game, our (harvesters) list is a lot more developed, and people are more educated on the issues and what FISH-NL is all about.”
But it comes with a cost, and revenue for 2019, projected to $255,330, is reflective of that. This figure is made up of secured funds, dues sets at $288 per year, and donations.
“When we done it before we thought we would have a decision fairly soon, but it was dragged out for two and a half years. Legal bills were a lot more than we thought,” he said.
Cleary said the revenue will be used to cover operational cost, legal fees and wages.
Changes to the executive
Richard Gillett, a founder of FISH-NL, has stepped away from the executive.
The Twillingate fisherman has cited personal health as his reason to not seek re-election.
“I’m sure I’ll still be there to get on the radio or lend support, that’s without question,” he said.
Given everything FISH-NL has learned from its first attempt at certification, Gillett feels the timing is right.
“We are going into this with a knowledge of how the system works, what the procedures are, and we’re more established than we were in the first place.”
Furthermore, he feels fishermen are ready for change.
“Since we done the first card drive, and since we started FISH-NL things have progressively gotten worse in the fishery,” he said.
Using Area 3L as an example, Gillett said quota cuts could reach up to 45 per cent for the north east coast fishing area from Bonavista Bay down through the Avalon.
According the Undercurrent News, a global seafood news publication, earlier this month, a shellfish panel at the Global Seafood Market Conference in San Diego, California, made the same high-end projections for cuts in 3L.
“If we keep going down this path, one (inshore) license won’t be enough for one claim of employment insurance,” he said. “The maximum income, with little cod to catch, you’re looking at about $20-25,000 before expenses, and you’ve got to pay those who work with you.
“We’re getting to a state where this fishery is becoming dysfunctional and there’s nothing else to turn to.”
FISH-NL’s new executive
- Ryan Cleary – President
- Peter Leonard – Vice president
- Jason Sullivan – Secretary/treasurer
- Boyd Lavers – Captain over 40 feet
- Keith Boland – Captain under 40 feet
Turning point
It’s coming to a point of survival, Gillett said.
“If we do not change or get organization to turn this fishery around, we’re done,” he said.
Gillett said FISH-NL, as a certified second union, would provided that option.
“Harvesters have been seeing what we’ve been putting out there, and they can make an informative decision on whether they want things to stay the same or change,” he said.
Port au Choix harvester Dean Offrey is ready for that change.
“Harvesters have been seeing what we’ve been putting out there, and they can make an informative decision on whether they want things to stay the same or change.”
-Richard Gillett, a founder of FISH-NL
The over 40-foot fleet fisherman has been a longtime support of FISH-NL.
He agrees with the message, and feels the transparency of its operations has been its strongest asset.
It’s part of the reason Offrey voted in a unanimous decision to shoot down a two-term limit for the executive.
Instead, the fate of the executive will be determined every two years during elections.
If the membership is pleased with the work being carried out, an executive member can continue to serve beyond the two terms.
“The fishermen will be the ones to have the say in who goes and who stays,” Offrey said.
Ironically, the reasoning behind the decision was because of support for Cleary to stay on as president, who had called for the two-term limit.
“It was humbling to hear, but I’m still concerned,” he said. “This union is not about me. This union is about the membership.”
“Because too many union leaders have a job for life, and you can build a little empire around you. I don’t think that works for anyone, not for the membership or the industry.”
However, CIeary said he will respect the decision of the membership.
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