We asked for fisheries science — we got it

Richard Gillett’s efforts are really lamentable only because of his heart condition and diabetes. And, I place myself amongst the most strident to peacefully demonstrate.

But this event wasn’t and isn’t strategic at all. Labradorians and Newfoundlanders struggle to support this one. Is it FISHNL, Richard solo, Richard-and-ryan? If — as many Labradorians and Newfoundlanders suspect, it’s FISH-NL — then they view it as only trying to further Ryan Cleary’s efforts to certify as a union and continue the raid on Unifor-ffaw.

I’m a worker advocate, but I’m also a realist and pragmatist. Unifor-ffaw has a storied-history but, more importantly, a successful past in compelling the federal government and others to address the needs of fish harvesters. That success continues when the Richard Gilletts of the world respectfully and democratically engage the leadership and the membership. I repeat, for emphasis, “the membership.” I see no clamouring amongst the Uniforffaw membership to break away and form another union.

The federal government recognizes and engages with those who are organized to represent workers of the sectors where the federal government has jurisdiction. Unifor-ffaw is their bargaining agent and the current membership has always seen the value in that, as have many past generations of harvesters. The labour movement is about the long game; it’s always worked that way.

This federal government — despite the fact that I have grievances with them — has lost no time in reversing the decade of darkness that the Harperites put on public science. If evidencebased public science informs public policy decisions that are then met with frustration and disbelief, then you can’t say that the science and resource-management is suspect, false or ill-advised.

As Canadians, we all wanted restored, evidence-based public science. The NDP and the Liberals demanded it. We ended up electing the Liberals and — on this issue — you got what you asked for. Therefore, the current equation is not deserving of any of the demands that Richard Gillett is asking for. Restored resources and unstifled, evidence-based science is what we got. You can’t snub your nose at it now. Furthermore, the federal government will continue this cautionary approach. But when that approach comes with bad news, you can’t toss it all out again and ask for something else.

Therefore, that’s not what this display is about. On that basis, for many of us, it’s just not adding up. Furthermore, a successful strike line hopefully places sanctions on an employer’s facility by appealing to others not to cross it. It’s doesn’t forcibly confine the workers at the facility by not allowing them to leave. That will not further your cause.

I applaud every chance to organize people and I participate in most of those opportunities. But on this one, I was only genuinely concerned for Richard Gillett’s health and not the ill-fated cause on which it rests.

Mark Power

Labour College of Canada graduate St. John’s