FFAW Launches Call for EI Intervention

The FFAW is launching a call to action for the federal government to maintain the divisor of 14 (number of best weeks) for the region outside of St. John’s for the remainder of this season.
Over 20,000 seasonal fishery workers are affected by a change in qualification criteria for Employment Insurance.
An adjustment to the regional unemployment rate outside of St. John’s to 12.9%, claimants now require a minimum of 455 hours to qualify for benefits. Prior to August 6th, the minimum was 420 hours.
This is the first time that the unemployment rate for the region has dropped from 14 since the pandemic.
“This unexpected change occurred just as the fishing season is clueing up for thousands of individuals during an already difficult year,” says FFAW-Unifor President Greg Pretty. “The circumstances with the crab fishery this year have caused a great deal of hardship for our members, and this is adding insult to injury. Many will now be short of income for nearly two months before our next fishing season begins and that’s simply unacceptable for such a critical industry in our province,” Pretty explains.
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