Fish harvesters upset with FFAW exchange heated words in Corner Brook office

A gathering of angry fish harvesters grew heated in Corner Brook on Monday after harvesters marched into the FFAW local office and exchanged words with staff members.

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​The harvesters were participating in a meeting hosted by former NDP MP Ryan Cleary to discuss a new fishermen only union, when they decided to march down the road to the FFAW office. 

Cleary said many of them were upset with comments from FFAW President Keith Sullivan that called the group a "vocal minority." 

​"If this is what he calls a vocal minority, then he is out to lunch," said Cleary. 

Some protesters were even seen ripping up their union cards, and a video shared on YouTube showed a heated confrontation inside the FFAW office. 

FFAW staff representative Jason Spingle is seen in the video responding to a disgruntled fisherman complaining about "lies" from the organization. 

When Cleary later attempted to shake his hand and diffuse the situation, Spingle refused and said: "I'm not shaking your hand Ryan." 

Cleary optimistic about new union

A few hundred people were on hand at the Royal Canadian Legion earlier on Monday as Cleary made the case for the new fishermen only union.

He said there wasn't a spare seat in the house as fish harvesters from all parts of the west coast and northern peninsula shared their displeasure with the FFAW. 

"This is a loud and clear message that the membership of the FFAW are not happy for one second with the union and the executive," said Cleary. 

"The people here demand change and I tell you what, we're going to offer them that change."

Ahead of Monday's meeting, Cleary said that many union members had been pleading with him to start a fishermen only union. 

The FFAW membership currently includes fish harvesters and plant workers.

More work to be done

Cleary said that before a union can be formed, there's still more work to be done.

"We have to take Fish NL—that's the federation of independent sea harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador—we've got to formalize that group in terms of a constitution, in terms of bylaws, in terms of an executive," he said.

Based on the strength of Monday's turnout, Cleary said he's feeling confident.

"I feel energized. I feel good. This is exactly what we needed. We needed a push to get moving and I tell you what, loud and clear today, we got that push."

Cleary will hold another meeting for interested fisherman in Clarenville on Tuesday.