FFAW/CAW Intends to Make Early Retirement an Election Issue

5/21/2004

Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW/CAW) intends to make an early retirement program for fishery workers a federal election issue in the province, says Union President Earle McCurdy.

The Union has started its fight for an early retirement program with a postcard campaign. FFAW/CAW members are being encouraged to mail the postcard to their Member of Parliament. In addition, FFAW/CAW has had calls from workers in non-union plants requesting postcards.

“This is a very big issue for our members and for all those employed in the processing sector of the fishery,” he said. “Women who make up the majority of processing workers would especially benefit from a decent retirement program.”

Many processing workers just missed the early retirement cutoff under the TAGS program. Now they are in their late 50s or early 60s and have seen their work and incomes deteriorate over the past five years. “They deserve to be able to retire out of the industry with some dignity,” said Mr. McCurdy. The Union recently highlighted the need for an early retirement program with the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Seasonal Work.

The Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry, especially the processing sector, is still reeling from the groundfish collapse of the 1990s. Restructuring and downsizing are still the order of the day, said Mr. McCurdy. This has also had a major impact on those working in shellfish plants, he said. The lack of work in the groundfishery has resulted in less work for shellfish workers who have seen their incomes diminished as a result of extra processing licenses.

“We have people who have worked for more than 30 years on the floor of a plant. They are suffering from extreme arthritis and other long-term and chronic pain as a result of their work. They missed out on the early retirement program under TAGS because they weren’t 55 years of age by the cut off, yet many of them had more time punched in the industry than those who did get to retire.”

In addition, said Mr. McCurdy, the TAGS Evaluation Report noted that the collapse of the groundfish stocks and the subsequent impact on people and communities would require decades of adjustment. “Even the federal government’s own report recognized that a five-year adjustment program was not sufficient. The federal government needs to understand that the mismanagement of fish stocks continues to have devastating consequences for the people of the fishery, especially older workers.”

“We said at the time that TAGS had only done part of the job. What we are asking is that the federal government finish the job and allow people with long-term attachment to the fishing industry to be able to retire with dignity.”

The union leader noted that an early retirement program will also help those who remain in the industry by strengthening their jobs and by creating places for younger people down the road.

The processing sector is characterized by an aging workforce and technological change is making it harder for older workers to keep up with the pace of production.

“This is about dignity. The fishing industry needs an early retirement program that recognizes years of service and age,” said Mr. McCurdy.

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