Tag Archives: FISH-NL
3 reasons the FFAW says FISH-NL can’t be trusted
Friday morning in St. John’s, FISH-NL formally filed for union certification with the Labour Relations Board so its members can leave the FFAW. The board will review the signed membership cards to determine if FISH-NL has enough support to trigger an official certification vote via secret ballot. FFAW secretary-treasurer Dave Decker outlined the reasons his union feels FISH-NL, led by former NDP MP Ryan Cleary, cannot be trusted. Cleary will not reveal how many fish harvesters have pledged their support to FISH-NL by signing the membership cards submitted to the Labour Relations Board Friday. Decker said that shows they don’t have enough support. He said roughly 10,800 harvesters are registered with the Fish Harvesters Certification Board, a provincial body, so FISH-NL knows how many there are. “I don’t think actually that they do have several thousand cards signed,” said Decker. Read the rest here 10:51
FISH-NL presents certification application to Labour Relations Board
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH NL) presented an application this morning to the Labour Relations Board requesting that the organization be certified as the new bargaining agent for inshore fish harvesters. The application includes membership cards signed by thousands of harvesters from more than 300 communities around the province. “We feel we have the support of more than 50 per cent of all inshore harvesters — we certainly had the support of more than 80 per cent of all harvesters we encountered,” said Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “What we’re attempting has been described — not as a raid of another union — but as a full fledged revolt.” Over the coming days and weeks, the Labour Relations Board will review FISH-NL’s application and verify the membership cards. The Board will determine whether FISH-NL has the support of at least 40 per cent of fish harvesters, which would trigger a secret ballot vote by the Labour Relations Board. That vote will ultimately decide which union will represent fish harvesters. 10:28
FISH-NL leaders to meet with Labour Relations Board, address reporters on Friday
The leaders of an upstart union movement in Newfoundland and Labrador will reveal their strategy for a certification bid Friday, months after launching a bitter and divisive campaign to try and raid the province’s influential fisheries union. Representatives from the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters (FISH-NL) will visit the Labour Relations Board in St. John’s in the morning, and plans to speak with reporters at their office on Job Street at 11 a.m. “All will be revealed tomorrow,” FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary said. The FFAW has also ramped up its criticism in recent weeks, accusing FISH-NL of having no real plan for the fishery and trying to weaken the bargaining power of harvesters. Read the story here 18:48
FFAW’s 5-cent-a-pound lobster ‘levy’ most shocking of all secrets uncovered in 2016
Of all the questions that have been raised about FFAW secrecy/conflict of interest in recent months, one of the most shocking discoveries was that the union had proposed a 5 cent a pound ‘levy’ on lobster. Fish harvesters didn’t know about the FFAW proposal (how unbelievable is that?) until FISH-NL brought it to light in early December, and it was the Seafood Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador who actually killed it (how’s that for the ultimate irony, processors standing up for harvesters — and not their union). Find details of the FFAW proposal here. The FFAW argued the 5 cent levy was to cover the union’s “management” of the fishery. To quote the union: “The bulk of the work once conducted by DFO is now being done by the FFAW, with no financial or in-kind support from the processing sector.” Read the rest of the post here, and open FFAW proposal.
FISH-NL calls on province to lift restrictions on outside buyers; challenges FFAW to outline its stand
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) has proposed that the provincial government lift all restrictions and allow out-of-province buyers into the provincial marketplace for all species. “An open and free market in the fishing industry would, at best, result in increased competition and more money in the pockets of fish harvesters,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “At worst, it would keep local buyers honest.” Cleary made the proposal in a letter this week to Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods. FISH-NL also proposes that restrictions be lifted on local fish buyers to permit them to buy all species. FISH-NL’s proposal was made following an intensive, province-wide consultation with thousands of fish harvesters, whose support for out-of-province buyers is unanimous. “Fish harvesters and fish harvesters alone drive the agenda of FISH-NL,” said Cleary, “and harvesters across the province have been unanimous is saying that outside buyers should be allowed in.” FISH-NL is attempting to break harvesters away from the FFAW into their own separate union, and the consultation was part of the certification drive. The FFAW has failed to raise the issue of outside buyers because of their obvious conflict of interest in representing both harvesters and plant workers under the one umbrella. “With the decline of crab and shrimp and the growing reliance on resurging ground fish, it’s critical that harvesters be paid the highest possible price for their catch,” said Cleary. “That can only happen if the door is open to outside buyers.” 09:38
Ryan Cleary risking it all for FISH-NL – ‘I’m doing this because I believe in it’
Ryan Cleary has been called a liar, a narcissist, an opportunist and more, but the leader of FISH-NL is fighting back, saying he’s sacrificing a lot because he believes strongly in the movement he’s leading. Cleary is not taking a salary, has racked up 9,000 kilometres on his vehicle travelling throughout the province, and put his own financial security in jeopardy. “I’ve cashed in my RRSPs to do what I’m doing right now because I believe in what I’m doing and I believe in taking any kind of salary would take away from my credibility,” told CBC News Wednesday And for those who question his honesty, Cleary issued this challenge: “For those who call me a liar and a narcissist, I have one question; About what? What am I lying about?” Read the story here 17:43
FISH-NL announces ad campaign featuring personal messages from harvesters
Do I want to be apart of a union that sets rules and regulations to favour a chosen few? Do I want to be apart of a union that turns its back on outside buyers when they’re prepared to pay fishermen $3.50 US a pound for cod? Do I want to be part of a union that used our own dues to fight our fellow scallop fisherman in court — and lost — then only to waste more of our money to appeal? The answer is no. I’m Boyd Lavers, a fish harvester from Port Saunders, and I’m behind FISH-NL.
Friday, Dec. 15, 2016 – The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) launched an advertising campaign this week, featuring six fish harvesters from around the province with personal messages to their current union, the FFAW. “For some unknown reason, the FFAW won’t acknowledge the fact that its membership is in full-fledged revolt,” says Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL. “The FFAW fiddles as its membership burns its union cards.” Leading up to Christmas Eve, dozens of 30-second radio advertisements will play on the VOCM network throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The advertisements were recorded by harvesters over the telephone from the outports where they live. Funds for the advertising campaign were raised through a Crowd Funding campaign on the Internet. FISH-NL set a goal of $16,000, money raised through donations in five days. For more information, contact Ron Woodman 697-6026 10:37
The momentum continues to build! FISH-NL reaches Crowd Funding goal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Dec. 14th, 2016 – The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) has reached its fundraising goal of $16,000 raised over five days through a crowd funding campaign. “We asked for support and we got it,” said Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL. As of 3 p.m. today, 135 people had donated a total of $16,005 — money to purchase media advertising, hire staff to oversee the conclusion of the membership drive, and travel/office expenses. “Support continues to pour in from all over Newfoundland and Labrador in the form of signed FISH-NL cards and donations,” said Cleary. “The momentum continues to build, and it’s fascinating to watch it unfold.”
FISH-NL announces Crowd Funding Campaign; all hands on deck
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) is launching a crowd funding campaign today to raise $16,000 to fund the conclusion of the breakaway union’s membership drive. “If you want to see a prosperous fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, we urge you to support the cause,” says Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL.“This battle has been compared to David vs. Goliath, but while the FFAW has unlimited funds at its disposal — as well as a definitive list of all fish harvesters in the province — FISH-NL has overwhelming momentum fueled by hundreds of volunteers.” It’s not just fish harvesters who are urged to contribute to the cause, but all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians concerned about the future of rural communities and their sputtering economic engine — the fishery. The funds raised will be used to purchase media advertising, hire staff to oversee the conclusion of the membership drive, and travel/office expenses. “The will for change is unstoppable,” says Cleary, “but only if all hands are on deck.” PLEASE NOTE: FISH-NL operates based on fairness for all harvesters — donations do not translate to influence within FISH-NL. To fish processing companies and the offshore sector — keep your money, FISH-NL is for inshore harvesters only. For more information, contact Ron Woodman 697-6026 Click here for gofundme page.
FISH-NL takes its message to Port de Grave
FISH-NL (Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador) is just about finished its provincial tour, with a scheduled late-afternoon meeting Wednesday in Torbay being the last stop for now. But a few hours before that, president Ryan Cleary and fellow FISH-NL executive Jason Sullivan met with a few harvesters at St. Luke’s Church Hall. Less than 10 people showed up, and Cleary said that wasn’t unexpected, given Port de Grave is among the ports where inshore harvesters still have it pretty good thanks to a strong crab fishery. “3L is a little different from anywhere else in the province,” Cleary told The Compass prior to the meeting. “It’s doing better because the crab is still good, because money is coming in and people are not suffering here like they are everywhere else.” Read the story here 17:12
Fish harvesters raise industry concerns at Fish-NL meeting in Marystown
Harvesters from around the Burin Peninsula had an opportunity to raise their concerns about the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) union during a series of meetings held in the region last week. Additional meetings were held in Bay L’Argent, Fortune, Lawn and Petite Forte. Wayne Meade, who fishes out of Grand Bank, was one of the attendees at last weeks meeting in Marystown. “I fished scallop on St. Pierre bank for a number of years and in 2006 they (FFAW) give away the middle (scallop) bed and the southern bed to the big offshore companies,” he said. “I held a license for that area for the last 25 years and overnight I had it took from (me), so there’s nothing fair about that.” Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL said the harvesters at the Marystown meeting are not alone in their feelings. Read the story here 18:24
FISH-NL challenges FFAW to public debate
FISH-NL’s Ryan Cleary is challenging the leadership of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) to a public debate, in the latest salvo between the two groups vying to represent the province’s fish harvesters. “Fish harvesters deserve answers, honesty, and a clear vision for the future — not yet more FFAW lies and deception,” said FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary in a news release on Monday. “Most fish harvesters do not trust the FFAW, or, as the union is better known these days, the ‘saltwater mafia.’ Cleary wants a debate to quash what he calls the “smears and fear mongering” by the FFAW around several issues, including that FISH-NL supports an end to the northern cod stewardship fishery. “The union has mutated into a business that prospers as the fishery dies at its feet,” Cleary said. The FFAW is gaining the support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour in its ongoing war of words with FISH-NL. Read the rest here 11:37
FFAW claims harvesters revoking signed support for FISH-NL
The president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) says some fish harvesters are having a change of heart about FISH-NL. In a news release Monday, Keith Sullivan said his union is being contacted by people who want to revoke their signatures on membership cards that supported Ryan Cleary’s breakaway group. “It’s become very clear that harvesters are not buying the hollow agenda of anger and division with no plan that FISH-NL is trying to sell,” said Sullivan. The release states the “surge” in requests to revoke signatures “comes at the same time as Cleary questioned whether there should be an inshore northern cod fishery at all this year.” Read the rest here 16:37
Northern cod plan kept from harvesters, FISH-NL’s Ryan Cleary says, FFAW Fires Back
Almost six months after the FFAW and a number of seafood processors pitched it to the federal government, the breakaway group says it has obtained a copy of the 2016 Northern Cod Management Plan. Ottawa approved the plan in early August. Despite numerous public requests, the FFAW refused to release a copy to its membership, FISH-NL said in a news release Friday. “The stewardship plan is the most important document involving northern cod since the 1992 moratorium and not only weren’t fish harvesters consulted, the final plan was kept secret from them,” FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary said. Harvesters around the province have complained they weren’t consulted before the plan was handed down. Read the rest here. FFAW Press Release – Today, FISHNL’s Ryan Cleary called into question whether there should be an inshore northern cod fishery. Read the press release here 13:58
Divide and conquer has always been the FFAW model
“Adjacency” is a word that can bring about anxiety in a room full of fishermen/women like few other industry terms can. This unnecessary fear essentially stems from the policies forced upon them by Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) politicians speaking from both sides of their mouths, depending on which group they might be feeding bait to at that particular moment. There has been an unnecessary divide created that has helped the fishermen’s union tighten the stranglehold on members for so many years — divide then conquer. It’s been the primary tactic of many oppressive empires over time, and has been implemented with precision by the FFAW in Newfoundland and Labrador. Read the rest here 18:38
Fish Harvester Tonia Grandy believes it’s time for change in representation.
Many of the problems in the province’s fishery can be traced back to the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) union, the Garnish fish harvester surmises. She hopes that change will come in the form of the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL). The Ryan Cleary-led group currently leading a charge to breakaway from FFAW-Unifor and form a new union that solely represents fish harvesters in the province has her full support, she said. FFAW-Unifor represents fish harvesters and fish plant workers. “This is a union for the fishermen, by the fishermen,” she said of FISH-NL. “This is something I believes in, and I’ve got my time and effort put into this a hundred per cent – a hundred per cent. We needs someone who is going to stand up and who is going to get the fishermen their fair share of quota.” Read the story here 14:49
FISH-NL leaders on tour, 15 formal meetings scheduled
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH NL) will begin the first leg of a provincial tour this week, with dozens of stops in Labrador, the Great Northern Peninsula, and western Newfoundland. “We have 15 formal meetings scheduled with fish harvesters from Port Hope Simpson, Labrador to Burgeo, Newfoundland, but we’ll be looking to meet fish harvesters wherever they gather — on the wharves or stages, in their kitchens and community halls,” says Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL, who will lead the tour. FISH-NL’s membership drive began on Nov. 1, with more than 9,000 cards distributed to date around Newfoundland and Labrador by roughly 100 volunteers. The membership drive will distribute and collect cards, as well as hear from fish harvesters on their concerns. “There’s an electricity today in Newfoundland and Labrador, a stirring on the wharves and stages, in the coves and harbours that hasn’t been felt in modern times,” says Cleary. “Fish harvesters are taking a last stand for a fishing industry that has been brutalized by decades of failed management and poor leadership. The salt and pepper revolution is a fight for NL’s most endangered species — fishermen and women.” 13:47
Key FISH-NL organizer (alledgedly) threatened ‘bloodshed’ at union meeting, says FFAW employee
An FFAW employee says she was threatened with violence after a man wearing a FISH-NL hat split a table during a meeting of union members in Fortune on Tuesday. “He repeatedly pounded on the table, yelling about inches from our faces,” said Dwan Street, a project coordinator for FFAW. “It then escalated to the point where he charged the table repeatedly into myself and a colleague.” Street said the man “uttered threats, very vulgar threats” during the meeting and shouted “I will rip off your head and shit down your neck.” She said the man also told her that “before this is all said and done here today there will be bloodshed and it won’t be mine.” Richard Gillett, vice president of FISH-NL, during an FFAW membership meeting in Twillingate on Wednesday night that was run by Street. He said he didn’t know if the threats were true and had to look into the FFAW’s allegations from the meeting in Fortune further. “I’m sure some of these meetings get hot and everything – but to the extent of death threats?” said Gillett. Read the rest here 10:28
FISH-NL elects executive, adopts constitution, and looks to a 2017 certification date
The process to formalize a breakaway fish harvesters union began at the Albatross Hotel in Gander Thursday morning. “I’ve never seen the unrest as widespread as it is today. It’s in every corner of the province,” said the leader of the Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters (FISH-NL), Ryan Cleary, in his opening address. Cleary, a former New Democrat member of Parliament, was acclaimed as president of the union that presents itself as a rival to the Fish, Food and Allied Workers. “We don’t have a lot of money, but we have a lot of will, we have a lot of determination to move this forward, so your being here means a lot,” Cleary told harvesters. “The revolution begins today, that’s why we’re here,” he said. “We’re looking at taking down what I consider as the saltwater mafia,” said Reg McDonald who drove to Gander from Summerside on the province’s west coast. Read the rest here 19:41
Breakaway union FISH-NL begins formalization process, will start handing out cards Nov. 1
The process to formalize a breakaway fish harvesters union began at the Albatross Hotel in Gander on Thursday morning. The group, led by former politician Ryan Cleary, began registration at 9 a.m. with plans to adopt a constitution and elect officers in the afternoon. Following Thursday’s meetings, the group known as the Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters (FISH-NL) will submit an application to the labour board, which will check with all registered fish harvesters in the province to see if there is a majority of 50 per cent plus one support. Read the story here 10:11
Letter: Fisherfolk should get behind new union by Oswan Tucker, Reef’s Harbour
Now is the time to finish what we started last year, which was to get rid of the FFAW. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union has neglected us, taken advantage of us and turned fisherfolk against one another. It shouldn’t be like that. We can do better than that, and now we will. We have acquired Ryan Cleary to head up our new union, which will be named the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL). This new union will look after the best interests of Newfoundland and Labrador fishermen and women — and only them. It will have a constitution drawn up to protect fisher folk from the kind of things we had to put up with from the FFAW. Read the rest here 09:06
Letter confirms FFAW boss Keith Sullivan is out of touch, by Ryan Cleary
I wish to respond to Keith Sullivan’s Oct. 8th letter to the editor, “Cleary would divide, not conquer,” by agreeing with his statement that I’m “no Richard Cashin.” But then, I have no desire to be. It’s ironic that Sullivan should bring up Cashin. Prior to a mid-September public meeting in Corner Brook to gauge interest in a new union specifically for fish harvesters, I was pulled aside by Stella Mailman, a senior from Port aux Choix, who still fishes with her husband. (Because she “has to.”) Stella told me how she went around decades ago with Cashin and the late Father Des McGrath, signing up fishermen on the Great Northern Peninsula for the union when it got off the ground. Stella said she was compelled to attend the Corner Brook meeting to see “history repeat itself,” because, as so many agree, it’s “time for change.” Stella later took to an open microphone and raised her fist in defiance of the union Cashin created. As watershed moments go, that was a doozy. Read the rest here 09:55
Push for new FISH-NL fishermen union an opportunistic ‘raid’ of FFAW, claims president of the Canadian Labour Congress
The president of one of Canada’s biggest labour groups says he’s justified in calling Ryan Cleary opportunistic for trying to start a new fishers union separate from the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW). Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), wrote a letter to Cleary on Monday where he described the former MP’s attempts to start a new union as a “raid” on the current FFAW membership. Yussuff dismisses Cleary’s claim that the letter was harsh and included personal attacks. “He’s trying to raid that union to create his own union for his own purposes, in my view,” Yussuff told the St. John’s Morning Show. “We have a process in the CLC structure to address issues that members raise, and we have not received any complaint from the members of that union.” Read the story here 09:22
Fish-NL – Ryan Cleary challenges FFAW to allow independent audit
Aspiring labour leader Ryan Cleary has issued a challenge to the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union, saying he will walk away from his movement if the FFAW will allow an independent audit of its finances. But the union says that’s already being done. It’s the latest tactic by Cleary in his bid to form a new union exclusively for Newfoundland and Labrador fish harvesters, to be called the Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters, or FISH-NL, and comes as the head of the Canadian Labour Congress strongly condemns Cleary’s efforts. “I will walk away from Fish-NL, I will walk away from this movement, period, if the FFAW agrees to allow a third party to go in and do a forensic audit of the FFAW, all government money going in, all fees that fish harvesters pay in,” Cleary told CBC News Tuesday. Cleary quickly added it’s a challenge he doesn’t expect will be accepted because “they have too much to hide.” The FFAW responded with a statement saying Cleary’s challenge is mute, because the union is already audited by an independent firm. Read the story here 13:32
FISH-NL: Fish harvesters in Port de Grave curious to see what will come of a push to form alternative to the FFAW.
The union drive so far is getting some serious looks. Hundreds of harvesters attended meetings held last week in Corner Brook and Clarenville. Frustrations hinge on a variety of issues that have come up in the industry. One man on the wharf pointed to various fees in place and the exorbitant compensation for union management and staff. On the flipside of that, a pension for harvesters amounts to selling off their enterprise when they’re ready to leave the sea. Meanwhile, those who continue to harvest are finding it difficult to compete against boats owned by plant operators and even the union itself. There’s also some general dissatisfaction over cod licenses granting harvesters the right to catch 2,000-3,000 pounds per week. “Why would a 65-foot or a 70-foot boat go out and get that, and pay a crew? There’s nothing there to do it. And that’s what really stirred all this up, is when the cod fishery came out. People weren’t consulted about it. Two or three (people) higher up in the union come out with all this planning, and there’s no consultations done with fishers … Read the story here 13:30
Didn’t the train leave the station? FFAW will try to do a better job at communicating with members
As the FFAW (Fish, Food and Allied Workers) union faces an exodus of members, staff representative Jason Spingle said the union is taking the issue very seriously. FISH-NL, the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador — an effort of former MP Ryan Cleary and fishermen Jason Sullivan and Richard Gillett — held meetings in Corner Brook and Clarenville this week to gauge and drum up support for the new union. Spingle, who works out of the FFAW’s Corner Brook office representing members from the west coast, Northern Peninsula and Labrador, said he’s seen the coverage of the meetings and recognized a lot of the faces of those who are supporting FISH-NL. With around 2,000 members in the region though, Spingle said there were a lot of people who were not at the meetings. Read the story here 17:22
“I’m going to be part of this new union. I guarantee you that,” Hundreds attend FISHNL meeting in Clarenville
Those leading a fight to establish a new union exclusively for fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador say the movement is receiving phenomenal support, and is poised to shake up the labour landscape in the province. Ryan Cleary says the response on social media and at a meeting in Corner Brook on Monday was “beyond our expectations,” and any doubt about whether there’s enough support to move forward has been erased. His words were supported by another large turnout on Tuesday at a meeting in Clarenville. Many harvesters said they travelled long distances from Burin and the Northern Peninsula to attend the meeting, and organizers like Cleary reiterated the movement is growing and that widespread discontent is real. “I have never experienced it before. It’s a phenomenon,” Cleary said Tuesday outside the Clarenville Inn. Speakers inside the meeting shared a myriad of frustrations with the FFAW and pledged to support efforts to form a new fishermen-only union. Read the story here – Hundreds attend FISHNL meeting in Clarenville There was hardly enough room to accommodate the hundreds of fish harvesters who came to the Clarenville Inn this afternoon to hear more about a proposed new fishermen’s union. Read the story here 20:01
Fish Harvesters from around west coast attend meeting in Corner Brook to support FISH-NL
Bruce Short was not one of the ones who needed convincing. The Beaumont, Long Island fisherman drove three hours to the Royal Canadian Legion in Corner Brook on Monday to attend a meeting on the formation of a new union to represent fish harvesters in the province. “This is the most exciting day in my life, to see that the fishermen in this province are starting to get a backbone,” Short said just minutes after addressing the crowd of about 250 men and women with his support of the new FISH-NL, the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador. He said it was time to get rid of the regime of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union, a group he called “just a Mafia.” Read the story here 08:01
Upstart FISH-NL Turns Up the Heat on Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union!
Things got a little heated outside the Fish, Food and Allied Workers office in Corner Brook when some 250 harvesters from around the west coast marched there to show the union they are fed up with the representation they’ve been getting. The group had been attending a meeting on the formation of a new union at the Legion when Conway Caines of Cow Head, a regular on the Discovery Channel’s “Cold Water Cowboys,” suggested they hold a peaceful walk to the union’s office. Ryan Cleary, former MP and one of the men behind the formation of FISH-NL (the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador), went with them. Cleary said FFAW president Keith Sullivan made a remark to the CBC that the group interested in forming the new union was a vocal minority. Read the story here 17:37
