N.L. fisheries minister urges union to hold secret ballot vote on snow crab harvest

Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg has urgedthe Fish, Food & Allied Workers union to hold a secret ballot vote asking snow crab harvesters if they are ready to fish at $2.20 per pound, according to a letter obtained by CBC News.

Harvesters have stayed off the water three weeks into the province's most lucrative fishery,as they protest what they consider a catastrophic price of $2.20 per pound. The topic came to a head earlier this week, when the Association of Seafood Producers called out intimidation and harassmentlevelled at fish harvesters who have expressed a willingness to fish for $2.20 a pound.

FFAWpresident Greg Pretty has said multiple times crab fishermen would rather go bankrupt on the wharf than fish at such a low price, which he said would cause an economic disaster.

Now, in a letter obtained by CBC News, Bragg says time is of the essence.

"Our province's snow crab harvesters' boats remain tied up and production lines remain halted while other provinces' harvesters are continuing to fish snow crab for a price similar to the price set for Newfoundland and Labrador," reads the letter addressed to Pretty.

"I am aware that many harvesters are expressing frustration that they want to go fishing but fear retribution from other harvesters. They are very concerned that the season will be lost to them."

Bragg asks Pretty in the letter to poll each crab harvester in the province by secret ballot, asking them: "Are you as a snow crab harvester ready and willing to go fishing now for the price as it is currently set at $2.20 a pound?"

CBC News asked Bragg's officeon Wednesday night for comment.

Union slams minister's proposal

In a press release issued after 8 p.m. NT on Wednesday, the FFAWsaid Bragg's request would contradict the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Actand open up harvesters and the union to litigation.

"Minister Bragg is directly undermining the elected leadership of the union, and it's clear he has absolutely no handle on the crisis facing this industry, let alone the basic laws governing his portfolio," says the release.

"Instead of stepping in as a provincial regulator to change rules surrounding processing licences and the flawed price-setting process, Minister Bragg continues to be a spectator."

At a press conference Wednesday, Pretty called for government intervention, saying the fishery would only begin when both sides reach a fair deal.

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