OCI needs longer term commitment for deal: Dunderdale

Ocean Choice International needs to give more in the future to get what it wants today, Premier Kathy Dunderdale says.

"What we needed from the company was a greater commitment, beyond the five years," Dunderdale said in an interview taped for On Point with David Cochrane.

"If you’re looking for a substantive change here that benefits the company, then you have to do something beyond the five-year contract that you’re in now, that would see the people of the province benefit. And they weren’t prepared to go there."

On Thursday, Fisheries Minister Darin King announced that the province was rejecting OCI’s processing plan. The company wanted to ship millions of pounds of unprocessed yellowtail out of the province, pledging to beef up activity at its Fortune fish plant in return.

Dunderdale fleshed out some details of what OCI was asking for, and why the province rejected the plan.

The premier said OCI was proposing to process seven million pounds of a 33-mllion-pound yellowtail quota in Fortune.

Bring in 'anti-scab' laws now, NDP says

New Democrat Leader Lorraine Michael points to OCI-FFAW dispute as proof of 'deteriorating' labour environment

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael says Ocean Choice International's use of replacement workers on the Newfoundland Lynx is proof that "anti-scab" legislation is necessary in the province.

Michael noted that the Lynx situation follows Vale's use of replacement workers during a lengthy strike at its Voisey's Bay site in Labrador.

Early Thursday morning, RCMP in Bay Roberts detained picketing union members and helped shepherd replacement workers hired by OCI to the Lynx. The police were enforcing a court order OCI had won earlier in the week.

"We have a real deteriorating situation with the private sector here and labour, and government has to step in," Michael told On Point with David Cochrane.

"And the only way is by bringing in anti-scab legislation."

Meanwhile, NDP labour critic Dale Kirby wants the labour minister, Terry French, to intervene in the Lynx dispute.

"He has not had a word to say about this, has given tacit approval by saying nothing," Kirby said.

"Maybe he is the minister for scab labour, I don't know, but he's certainly not doing his job as the minister of labour."

Kirby said the government must immediately table legislation in the house of assembly that stops companies from using replacement workers.

Without it, Kirby said, other employers will see this situation as permission to weaken workers' rights and benefits.

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Source: CBC 
Author: cbc news 

Arrested Bay Roberts trawlermen released from jail

Police have released unionized crewmembers who were detained early Thursday near the fishing vessel Newfoundland Lynx in Bay Roberts.

The two dozen men were released around 7 a.m. after spending about two hours in custody. No charges were laid.

The locked-out crew had been preventing replacement workers from boarding the Lynx, which is owned by Ocean Choice International.

At 1:30 a.m. Thursday, the busload of replacement workers arrived in Bay Roberts.

A few hours later, RCMP officers moved in and began removing unionized crewmembers from the picket line. They were taken to the detachment in nearby Harbour Grace.

The Mounties then escorted the replacement workers across the picket line, many of whom ran from their bus to the trawler at about 4 a.m., according to the wife of one union worker at the scene.

"They were like thieves in the night," said Beryl Fisher.

"They ran, they were frightened to death."

The Newfoundland Lynx left port shortly thereafter.

After they were released, the union workers moved their picket line to OCI's headquarters in Paradise.

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Source: CBC 
Author: cbc news 

OCI processing request rejected

Fisheries Minister Darin King is saying no to OCI's proposal to ship unprocessed fish out of the province.

"The provincial government sees no other option but to reject the groundfish proposals submitted by Ocean Choice International," King said Thursday.

"This decision is based on consideration for what is in the best interest of the people of this province."

OCI president and CEO Martin Sullivan said it's unfortunate the two sides couldn't reach a deal. He said the company will now ponder its options.

"Now that we have government’s decisions on our proposals at hand, Ocean Choice International will determine the next steps for its business,” said Sullivan.

"Last fall OCI made its position on the future of the fishing sector very clear. If we are to meet consumer demands and explore new markets, we need to embrace change, a change in product offering and a change in how we do business. It's the right thing to do for a sustainable fishery in our province. The message is the same today."

Replacement crew blocked from boarding trawler

Locked-out members of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers' Union (FFAW) blocked a replacement crew of workers from boarding an Ocean Choice International fishing trawler, in the union's latest skirmish with the company.

A replacement crew of about 30 non-unionized workers for the trawler Newfoundland Lynx arrived in Bay Roberts at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.

They were faced by a picket line manned by the locked-out OCI trawlermen.

A bus carrying the replacement workers waited about eight hours just outside the property owned by Harbour International, which won a court injunction to keep pickets off its property.

The bus, meanwhile, was accompanied by an RCMP cruiser, with Mounties also stationed near the picket line at the wharf.

At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the busload of workers left Bay Roberts without trying to cross the line.

Greg Pretty, a union representative for the FFAW, says it was a long but successful all-nighter for the union.

"Two people jumped (off) the bus," said Pretty. "So we have two people who told us that they're finished with the scab bus. It was a mistake. They're not going back, and it was a bad idea to start with."

Pretty said the locked-out crewmembers will maintain their picket line near the Newfoundland Lynx.

He believes OCI is determined to go fishing, and expects the company to make another attempt to put replacement workers on the vessel.

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Source: CBC 
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OCI wins injunction against former Marystown workers

Ocean Choice International has been granted a court injunction, ordering former workers at the Marystown fish-processing plant to allow company officials access to the facility.

The former workers have been protesting outside the plant around the clock since it was closed in early December. They have been on a public road leading to the plant since Dec. 22.

Judge Deborah Fry said the protesters can remain, but she ruled that they cannot stop OCI officials from accessing the company’s property. She also said the former workers can not trespass onto OCI’s property

Fry dismissed the union's argument that the company must be prevented from removing equipment from the Marystown plant.

In court last week, the workers’ lawyer said they believe the plant is less likely to ever reopen if equipment is removed from it.

Fry said the union did not give any reason why the company should not be able to enter its own plant.

Original Article
Source: CBC