The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister Responsible for Labour, today announced the appointment of three individuals to the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel. All appointments are for a three-year term.
Members of the Panel are:
- Earle McCurdy, Regular member
- Michael Dewling, Alternate member
- Brendan Condon, Alternate member
Established in 2006, the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel is responsible for annually identifying, in consultation with stakeholders, particular fish species for collective bargaining; collecting and disseminating market information; establishing parameters for negotiations; facilitating collective bargaining; setting hearings; and where necessary, acting as an arbitration panel in setting fish prices when the parties have been unable to agree.
These appointments followed the merit-based process established by the Independent Appointments Commission Act.
Biographies of the appointees can be found in the backgrounder below.
Quote
“I welcome the newly appointed members of the Standing Fish-Price Panel. I am confident these members, all of whom have backgrounds in the fishing industry, will bring significant knowledge, skills and experience to the work of the Panel.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister Responsible for Labour
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BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information for Members of the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel
Earle McCurdy (Regular Member)
A graduate of Memorial University, Earle McCurdy worked as a reporter for the Evening Telegram from 1973-77 before joining what was then known as NFFAW (now FFAW-Unifor) as Editor of the union publication Union Forum. He went on to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the union from 1980 until 1993, and President from 1993-2014. In 2015, he was elected provincial Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party, a position he held until his retirement in 2017. He also served as President of the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters, an umbrella organization representing fish harvester groups from across Canada, and from 1993 to 2014 as a member of the National Executive Board of the Canadian Auto Workers (now Unifor). Mr. McCurdy was also active in a variety of industry, labour and community organizations, including the governing bodies of the NL Federation of Labour, St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, Memorial University, Workers Compensation Commission, and the Coalition for Equality.
Michael Dewling (Alternate Member)
Michael Dewling, a Chartered Professional Accountant, is currently in his 7th year teaching Business Administration at the College of the North Atlantic, Corner Brook campus. He spent over 10 years in the fish processing industry, working with several companies in eastern Newfoundland. He has also worked as a corporate accountant in a variety of industries including the energy sector, aerospace, retail, and manufacturing. Mr. Dewling received a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University and a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia.
Brendan Condon (Alternate Member)
Brendan Condon was born in Calvert and completed his high school years in nearby Ferryland. Following a period of time as an inshore fish harvester, he attended the College of Fisheries (Marine Institute) where he attained a number of certificates in the fishing and marine sectors. Mr. Condon joined the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the mid-1970s. During his tenure at the department he served as Manager of the Middle Distance Fishing Vessel Program, Director of the Field Services Division and Director of the Fisheries Adjustment Division. In 2000, Mr. Condon became Executive Director of the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board for Newfoundland and Labrador, a position he held until 2005. During his more than 30-year career in the fishing industry, he has served on a number of inter-governmental and industry committees.