FISH-NL hires lawyer David Goodland

The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) has hired well-known St. John’s lawyer David Goodland to represent the organization’s certification application currently before the Labour Relations Board. “David’s one of the best labour lawyers in the province and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him aboard,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “He has a proven track record, most recently having successfully represented scallop fishermen in the Strait of Belle Isle in their case against the FFAW.” Last March, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled in favour of 76 scallop fishermen who took the FFAW to court over a compensation fund for lost fishing grounds. Nalcor agreed in 2014 to pay out $2.6 million to keep fishermen away from an undersea cable needed to bring Muskrat Falls power to the island. The fishermen argued the money should be shared through lump sum payments among everyone who held scallop licence. FISH-NL presented an application to the Labour Relations Board on Dec. 30th requesting that it be certified to represent the province’s inshore fish harvesters, breaking them away from the FFAW. The application was released to the FFAW on Monday, giving the union and fish processors 10 calendar days to respond. In turn, FISH-NL will have 5 calendar days to respond to those responses. The Labour Relations Board will then conduct an investigation of the application and the membership cards, a process that could take “weeks or months.” Once that investigation is complete and a report is issued, FISH-NL will have 2 days to respond before the final report is released. 10:49

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