"I have been told that the fish processors are taking great comfort from the Premier’s stand against the public sector unions," said Mr. Reid. "The processors feel that if they hold out long enough, the Minister of Fisheries, the Minister of Finance and the Premier will introduce production quotas, something they have wanted for years.

"There are currently 20,000 fisherman and plant workers who are not working because of this government’s inaction and botched attempts to negotiate a solution earlier this year. As a former fisherman and former employee of the FFAW, Minister Taylor should know the plight of the fishermen in this province. He continuously states that he won’t get directly involved in the dispute, however, he hasn’t denied that he is considering the implementation of production quotas, something the FFAW vehemently opposes. Why has this Minister turned his back on the fishermen and plant workers in the province? Is he trying to satisfy the fish merchants and corporate elite of the province? Has he been ordered to break their union by the Premier?

"If Minister Taylor was truly committed to the fishery of this province, he would stand tall today and tell all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that there will be no implementation of production quotas without the support of fishermen and plant workers. Otherwise, I fear another 20,000 workers will be involved in a lengthy strike in an effort to send another message to this anti-union government."