Strike vote underway at OCI plants

Voting was to continue Friday night on a labour dispute at one of the largest seafood companies in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union is seeking a strike mandate for its roughly 1,200 workers at six Ocean Choice International plants.

Allan Moulton, the FFAW local president in Marystown, said the union has already agreed to enough concessions, in recognition of OCI's problems in a tight seafood marketplace.

"Not too often you're at a bargaining table where the union's position is to put out a position that keeps workers worse off than they were six years ago. That's clearly the case here," Moulton told CBC News Friday.

"We've tried as best we can, [but] this company keeps coming back looking for more — 'Give me more, give me more, give me more.'"

The FFAW represents workers at OCI plants in six communities.

Moulton said OCI is asking for concessions on things such as vacation pay.  

In March, OCI employees reluctantly gave their blessings to a controversial deal that allows the company to export small flounder to China for processing there.