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Roland Butler, Opposition Human Resources, Labour and Employment Critic and
MHA for the District of Port de Grave, is concerned that government might be
backing away from an assistance program for crab plant workers because they
refuse to release details. He says they must provide information about their
plan to help these workers who have been negatively impacted by the current
dispute caused by government. "It is already too late for many workers to
work enough hours to qualify for Employment Insurance benefits this year,"
said Butler. "The Minister of Fisheries has even stated that the total quota
will not likely be landed this season. Therefore, government has an
obligation to immediately assist these people who are running out of
benefits from last year. I have a number of concerns about this program
promised by the Premier and reconfirmed in the House today by the Minister
of Municipal and Provincial Affairs.
"Plant workers need to know who will qualify for the program and what
hourly wage will be provided. The PC Member for Bonavista South has already
said publicly that minimum wage is not good enough and I hope the Premier
will listen. These people work in an industry where hourly wages range from
$9-$11 and Employment Insurance benefits are based on these wages for the
remainder of the year. If government assistance isn’t provided at the same
level, many of these people will face extreme financial difficulties,
possibly forcing them to leave the province."
The Liberal MHA says he is also concerned because government will not
release information on who will qualify for this program. "Government must
acknowledge the hardship experienced by plant workers in fish plants that
process other species and only partly rely on crab processing. The Minister
must realize the impact on these people and their families by extending the
benefits of the program to them. We have already received reports from some
workers in this circumstance that they will not qualify for the program.
"There are many others who are also impacted by this dispute and must be
considered in government’s compensation program. Truck drivers, suppliers
and others who rely on this $500 million industry have been negatively
impacted by a dispute that has dragged on for over 9 weeks. We have asked
government what they will do for these people and their families and there
have been no answers to date.
"I am calling on government to release details of this program so that
these people can get their lives back on track. I will continue to ask these
questions until the Premier and his government provides answers to deal with
the uncertainty surrounding this program. People are making decisions about
staying or leaving this province and they need to know details of this
program immediately." |