Ocean Choice reaches deal with union

One of the largest seafood processors in Atlantic Canada has reached a tentative deal with unionized workers, averting a strike just as the main fishing season in Newfoundland and Labrador hits full stride.

Ocean Choice International (OCI) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union came to an agreement Monday for a contract for workers at six plants in the province.

Union president Earle McCurdy said no details will likely be released until Tuesday.

About 93 per cent of participating union members had backed a strike mandate earlier this month, with the union arguing that OCI had been seeking concessions at the bargaining table.

In particular, the union had claimed OCI wanted to roll back vacation pay. Wage rates and overtime were also issues, although OCI said its proposal would still have left its workforce at the six plants with some of the best pay and benefits in the industry.

The union said its members had already made sacrifices in 2007, when Ocean Choice bought the plants from the struggling Fishery Products International.

The plants are in Bonavista, Dildo, Marystown, Port au Choix, Port Union and Triton.