According to Earle McCurdy, Union President, the main aim of the Convention will be the financial crisis in the fishery and the importance of the fishery to the economy of coastal communities. He further said that this is the most serious situation in the fishery since the northern cod moratorium. He told that in the Convention they are going to highlight the financial ups and downs and also the battle for survival of fishing communities.
McCurdy is said to be the speaker in the Convention. CAW National President Ken Lewenza will also be addressing delegates, as will Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Tom Hedderson, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labor President Lana Payne, and Tom Clift, the independent Chair of the Steering Committee guiding the restructuring process arising from a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the FFAW/CAW, the Provincial Government and the Association of Seafood Producers.
As per McCurdy the Convention will also deal with regular union business, including constitutional amendments, resolutions and the installation of the recently-elected Executive Board. He told that women make up a significant part of our membership, including an increasing proportion of the inshore fishing fleet. This conference will give them an opportunity to deal with issues of special significance to women.
