The Telegram (St. John's)

With expected cuts, plant reopening looks bleak for Twillingat­e

Discussion­s held over potential programs with plant and union

- BY KYLE GREENHAM

The prospect of Notre Dame Seafoods plant reopening this summer is looking bleak.

Continual declines in biomass in both the northern and gulf shrimp population­s have people across the province worried about further cuts to a shrimp fishery already devastated by drastic quota cuts the past two years.

A private meeting was held last Thursday with Fish, Food and Allied Workers union representa­tive Jason Spingle, Notre Dame Seafoods president Jason Eveleigh, and plant committee president Ray Hynes and vice-president John Hynes at the plant’s office in Twillingat­e.

The meeting was held to discuss the plant’s future and find solutions for its workers if the plant remains closed.

Spingle says current projection­s for quota cuts are not promising.

“They’re yet to be announced, but it’s looking like a 15 per cent cut for the gulf and a 16 per cent cut for the north,” said Spingle. “It’s very unlikely that the plant is going to reopen.”

According to Eveleigh, an official announceme­nt regarding the status of the plant is not expected until early April.

After the plant shut down last year, laid-off workers were offered a community enhancemen­t program — 10 weeks of minimum-wage employment and enough hours to qualify for employment insurance.

If the plant remains closed again this year, Spingle says, a fish plant closure program would be a likely option to help out the out-of-work plant employees.

“The company will have to make the announceme­nt on the plant’s closure before we could go forward on any program,” Spingle said. “That announceme­nt could activate the plant closure program and give those workers the 14 weeks of work they need.

“Getting any program that would most benefit them, that would be our goal.”

An early retirement program was also discussed, as many of the workers are approachin­g the age of 65. Spingle says there are issues to be worked out for these potential programs on both the federal and provincial government levels.

As quota announceme­nts for the gulf and northern shrimp are expected in the coming weeks, Spingle hopes to be back in the area for further discussion when more things are official. Overall, the meeting was a very difficult but good exchange, he says.

“I appreciate the opportunit­y to sit down face to face, particular­ly when it comes to these difficult issues,” he said.

 ?? KYLE GREENHAM/THE NORTHERN PEN ?? Fish, Food and Allied Workers union rep Jason Spingle came to speak with Notre Dame Seafoods president Jason Eveleigh and plant committee president and vice-president Ray and John Hynes at the plant’s office in Twillingat­e last week.
KYLE GREENHAM/THE NORTHERN PEN Fish, Food and Allied Workers union rep Jason Spingle came to speak with Notre Dame Seafoods president Jason Eveleigh and plant committee president and vice-president Ray and John Hynes at the plant’s office in Twillingat­e last week.

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