| The All-Party Committee holding consultations on the FPI Act came to
Harbour Breton on January 31, 2002 to hear from the people most affected by any changes to
the Act. About 1000 people from Harbour Breton and the Coast of Bays region came out to
the gymnasium at St. Joseph's School to let the committee know how they felt the recent
developments at FPI would affect them personally, their community and the region.
The Hon. Oliver Langdon, MHA, Fortune Bay - Cape LaHune opened the meeting and
encouraged everyone to express their views as this was an important issue for their
community and also for the province. He then handed the meeting over to the Hon
Gerry Reid, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, chair of the All-Party Committee.
Just then, about 130 plant workers from the night shift at the plant marched into
the meeting chanting, "Stop that Deal!", in reference to the proposed
FPI-Clearwater deal.
Once the workers took their position at the front of the gym, Eric Day, FFAW, explained
that these workers represented the 130 workers wo would have been laid off first if the
deal is finalized. The workers took three hours off work to attend this meeting.
The local representatives of the FFAW were the first to present explaining the
stress the workers and their families are enduring under such trying times and the
possibility of having to uproot and leave this area should their jobs be made redundant.
They also impressed upon the committee the need to strengthen the FPI Act to protect the
workers that has built the company to what it is today.
Mayor Churence Rogers, stated that the workers have the full support of the Town of
Harbour Breton and other towns in the region. He said that he was willing to work
with the company, government and the unions to reach a suitable solution to this problem.
FPI, he said, has been the mainstay of the economy of Harbour Breton for many years
and he hoped that this would continue well into the future. After a well delivered,
straight from the heart speech, Mayor Rogers was given a standing ovation by the
gathering.
Bill Snook, President of the local branch of the NLTA, stated that this issue goes
further than the fishplant. It has implications to the educational environment as
well. As the numbers of students decrease, so too does the teaching resources.
Mr. Snook told the plantworkers that the teachers are solidly behing them in their
fight.
Mildred Skinner, the FFAW representative of the inshore fishers, extended their support
to the plantworkers as well. This was followed by a presentation by Ms. Tracey
Perry, Executive Director of the Coast of Bays Corporation, who put forward four points
for consideration:
- The 15% ownership clause to pertain to all classes of shares, not just the voting
shares,
- that the preamble speel out the uniqueness of the company,
- that fish caught in Newfoundland waters be processed by Newfoundlanders and be marketed
by Newfoundland offices, and
- that the possibility of community quotas be explored by the provincial government.
Will Reid and Eric Day of the FFAW then spoke about working for the company, about the
pride of the workers and of the friendly competition between various plants. He also
stated that the economies of larger towns such as Grand Falls, Gander and Clarenville are
as much dependent on the fishery for successful economies as are the communities that have
the fishplants. Roy Drake, a local businessman, gave a presentation on the effects
any kind of downsizing would have on the businesses in the town and the surrounding
region.
The 'open mic' session heard from such people as Georgina Ollerhead who spoke about the
effects this would have on the volunteer sector in the community. Diane Mullins,
Margaret Coady and Yvonne Bennett, plant workers, spoke about their personal experiences
and that loopholes in the Act must be closed now to prevent future disruptions.
Others spoke about the devastating effects any layoffs would have on the town and the
region.
Before returning to work, the plantworkers shook hands with the committee members and
thanked them for coming to hear their concerns.
Before closing the meeting, co-chairs of the committee commented about the quality of
the presentations and the show of support by the whole community. They will consider
all the points put forward during the meeting to formulate a plan of action in the weeks
ahead.
The committee moves on to the Baie Verte peninsula, the Northern Peninsula and the West
Coast next week to complete the consultation process. |
