Amendments to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act that will restore the right to strike and lockout for Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing sector passed in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Under the current system, fish prices have been set either through negotiations or binding arbitration by the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel. With the new measures, scheduled to take effect in early 2025, bargaining parties may again strike or lock out, provided they have first engaged in collective bargaining, followed conciliation procedures and, in the case of a union, secured a strike mandate.
If both the Fish, Food and Allied Workers and the Association of Seafood Producers agree to the new model by early 2025, the amended legislation will be proclaimed. Otherwise, the existing price-setting structure would remain in place for the coming season.
The amendments also allow the parties to jointly opt into a final-offer selection process at any point during negotiations. This option expires once they are able to take strike or lockout action.
“The amendments proposed to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act allow for a return to a more traditional form of bargaining, which includes a return to strike or lockout processes,” said Lisa Dempster, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister Responsible for Labour. “We have been listening to the FFAW and ASP and we know that recent years have been tumultuous in the fishery.”
“I’ve heard the concerns raised by the fishers and processors and am optimistic that we will be able to make appropriate changes to the price-setting process for the 2025 fishing season once informed by the parties of their desired model for bargaining,” said Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture. “With the amendments moving through the legislative process now, we have some time to collaborate with the industry to implement these changes.”
