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Reid calls on Premier to produce rather than posture July 18, 2006
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Liberal Leader Gerry Reid says it is time for the premier to stop the
political rhetoric and chest thumping and get down to the job of creating
employment in this province, especially in the troubled fishery sector.
The Liberal Leader was reacting to the audacity of John Risley and FPI’s demand for a $2.65 rollback in the wages of its workers before contract talks resumed. Approximately 1000 workers in Fortune and Marystown workers have been without a contract for the past year. Union officials have characterized FPI’s recent pre-conditions to contract talks as unrealistic and unacceptable. "The latest move by FPI is further proof that this company is not at all serious about reopening its plants in Marystown and Fortune. I am convinced that FPI’s ultimate goal is to have its groundfish quotas processed elsewhere," states Reid. "What is even more unacceptable is that while FPI’s board of directors runs roughshod over its workers in this province, the premier does nothing but talk tough. This is the same premier who boasts that he is not afraid to take on the big oil companies, but is prepared to sit idly by and watch the John Risley’s of the world destroy a made-in-Newfoundland and Labrador company. The Liberal Leader states that the answer to the FPI situation is simple. "I’m firmly convinced that the current quotas traditionally processed in those communities can be kept there to keep these plants from permanently closing. The premier has made absolutely no attempt to secure these quotas from the federal government. Yet, he has no problem going to Ottawa seeking the fed’s help in forcing oil companies to use their resource or lose it. "The premier’s silence and inaction on this issue is being mistaken for consent by this company. It is high time to send a clear and strong message that FPI cannot continue its path of destruction in this province which is contributing to a wave of outmigration the likes of which this province has never seen. Ironically, while droves of people are leaving, the premier is beaming over a Bank of Montreal report which predicts that this province, together with Alberta, will lead the country in economic growth this year. "The premier prides himself as a great fighter. Well, it’s time for the posturing and the shadow boxing to stop on the fishery matter and for some real work to start. It is simply not good enough for the premier to nonchalantly characterize those who are leaving or contemplating leaving as homing pigeons. As premier, he has a moral obligation to find solutions for the mass exodus of people out of this province." |
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