Connors Bros. confirms cutting second shift at sardine plant
Company says 60 jobs in Blacks Harbour will be affected, due to decline in catch forecasts
Connors Bros., Limited has confirmed it will not recall a second shift at its Blacks Harbour sardine plant this season.
The company blames a decline in the weir fishery and herring catch forecasts for 2015 for the decision.
About 60 jobs will be affected, spokesperson Dave Giddens said in an emailed statement.
But positions will be found elsewhere within the company for 40 of those people, he said.
The remaining 20 people, who all have less than five years with the company, "will be recalled only if additional work becomes available," Giddens said.
The second shift would normally be recalled at the beginning of June, he said.
"If the fish supply improves, we will institute the second shift again in 2016," Giddens said.
Up to 172 people worked on the second shift last year, including temporary foreign workers, he said.