SEA-NL calling for elimination of final-offer system

SEA-NL is calling for the elimination of the provincial government's final-offer system of fish pricing. The organization is instead in favour of direct negotiations between the union and processors until contracts are created that both sides respect.

SEA-NL’s Executive Director Ryan Cleary says, "there is no point in government being involved in negotiating the price of fish when its appointed panel does not have the power to enforce one price or the other."

Under the current process, the panel steps in when the FFAW-Unifor, and Association of Seafood Producers can’t reach a deal on the price of a particular species.

The panel must choose one price or the other, with its final decision “binding” on both sides.

Cleary says that a number of fisheries may not happen this year.