OCI deal should pass: FFAW official

Voting is scheduled to start Thursday on a tentative contract between Ocean Choice International and unionized workers at six of its Newfoundland plants.

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union is not releasing details on the deal, which if approved will provide labour peace at the plants, particularly as this year's fishing season gears up.

Union vice-president Allan Moulton said, however, that the proposed deal fends off concessionary demands that St. John's-based OCI had put on the bargaining table.

"I suppose [it] is a marginal agreement to provide for a small wage increase," Moulton told CBC News.

About 93 per cent of participating FFAW members at plants in Bonavista, Dildo, Marystown, Port au Choix, Port Union and Triton had given their approval for a strike mandate. The strike was averted Monday, when a tentative agreement was reached.

OCI is not commenting on the tentative deal.

Moulton said he expects most members will ratify the tentative deal, although he expects workers to be less than completely satisfied.

"There were, as you know, a lot of huge concessions on the table that would have taken a lot of dollars out of workers' pockets, [which] we've managed to get set aside and taken out of the agreement," Moulton said. "So, yes, I think that workers will be pleased with that part of it."

The deal applies only at plants that OCI purchased in 2007 from Fishery Products International.

Voting is expected to conclude Friday.