Proposed amendments to the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act received Second Reading in the House of Assembly today. The Provincial Government is proposing various amendments, including modifications to the membership of the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel.
If approved, the amended legislation will:
- Introduce a five-year statutory review for the collective bargaining model outlined in the Act;
- Introduce changes to the composition of the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel, including:
- Retaining the three-person Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel, with the addition of two alternate chairs;
- The chairperson and alternate chairs will be appointed by the Provincial Government, with direction from industry; and
- The certified bargaining agent and the processors’ organization will each nominate one member and one alternate member for appointment to the panel.
- Upon joint request of the parties to collective bargaining, the Chairperson alone can hear and consider the parties’ positions and issue a decision.
In July 2022, Minister Davis announced an independent review of the collective bargaining model contained in sections 19.1 – 19.14 of the Act. Input was received from fish harvesters, processors and their respective organizations, and other interested parties. The report, ‘Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Model: Past, Present and Future’, was released on October 14 and contained 20 recommendations.
The Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act was created in 1971 and regulates collective bargaining between fish harvesters and processors. The current collective bargaining model, introduced in 2006, established the three-person Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel. The Panel’s mandate is to facilitate collective bargaining in the fishing industry and set price and conditions of sale when the parties have been unable to conclude a negotiated collective agreement.
Quotes
“As the Minister Responsible for Labour, I am committed to ensuring we have legislation that is current and responsive to the needs of the fishing industry, and to identifying opportunities to improve the province’s fish price setting process. I have had detailed conversations with both the Association of Seafood Producers and the Fish Food & Allied Workers Union, and thank them for their input into the review process.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister Responsible for Labour
“The efficient and timely setting of fish prices is a common objective for all those engaged in the province’s fishing sector. These amendments are intended to lead to quicker resolutions during the negotiation process and help those working in the fishing industry achieve maximum economic benefit from our seafood resources.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
-30-
Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act
Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel
Follow us on Twitter @GovNL, @ECC_GovNL and @FFA_GovNL
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Debbie Marnell
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-2575, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca