FFAW seeking new secretary-treasurer
Robert Keenan steps down after eight years as secretarytreasurer
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union is seeking a secretary-treasurer after the resignation of executive member Robert Keenan.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Aug. 1, the FFAW said it had received Keenan’s notice of resignation on July 29.
The union also posted a copy of Keenan’s resignation letter.
In it, Keenan said that when he accepted the position with the union in November 2014, he had promised his wife that he would not let the position dominate his life and that family would always come first.
“That is a promise I want to keep but have been unable to do so in my current role,” he wrote. “Over the past few years, I have spoken to many people close to retirement who have told me that their biggest regret is that they put work first when their children were young. My children are four and six years old and I do not want to have that regret.”
Keenan said his decision to resign was both the “easiest and hardest” one he’s ever had to make.
Just last year he was reelected, by acclamation, to the position.
However, he said, “In 40 years’ time no one will remember a crab price that I negotiated or that I was even secretary-treasurer; but my children will certainly remember if I was, at best, a part-time dad for the first 10 to 15 years of their life.”
Prior to becoming secretary-treasurer of the FFAW Keenan worked with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador in the area of community co-operation and policy development.
Before that he was a family and criminal lawyer, practicing in New Brunswick and Alberta.
As market analyst and chief negotiator for the FFAW, Keenan was involved in every price negotiation for every fishery.
It’s an intense process at the best of times, and the past two years have been particularly contentious, with the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and the FFAW doing battle not only over prices on snow crab, but throwing stones as well over appointments to the province’s fish price setting panel.
Keenan could not be reached for comment Monday.
The FFAW, meanwhile, is wasting no time to fill his vacant position.
The nomination process has begun, the union said, and all members in good standing can nominate candidates for the position from Aug. 16-26.
Completed nomination forms and a signed and sworn affidavit must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26.
A spokesperson for the FFAW said if there is more than one person nominated, an election will be held Aug. 31.