RCMP called to OCI’s Marystown fish plant after access blocked

Former workers have been maintaining an around-the-clock vigil at the plant since OCI's decision to permanently close it last month.

Two pickup trucks, with company management inside, had made it into the plant but were blocked as they tried to leave.

Marvin Flynn, a private citizen of Marystown and not a plant workers, had placed his own truck in front of the exit.

Meanwhile, another pickup truck was waiting further up the road to collect parts for one of the company's vessels.

Mr. Flynn explained the rationale for his actions to the media before talking to the police.

"I'm just a member of the public. I'm down here voicing my opinion on what's going on and I'm supporting (the former employees). I invite everybody on the Burin Peninsula, that includes Fortune, to come down here, because you guys are pawns."

He was referring to the proposal put forth by OCI to open its Fortune plant year round if the provincial government would grant the company yellowtail and red fish processing exemptions.

After speaking privately with police, who were calm and displayed an understanding of the situation, Mr. Flynn removed his truck, which had broken down, with assistance from some of the former plant workers.

Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland ruled the picket line can remain in place at the entrance, as long as the former employees stay off company's property and don't block access to the facility.

Although the incident was apparently not sanctioned by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union, which represents the former workers, a group of 40 or so were quick to arrive at the site, where usually only five or six rotate in shifts, and some hampered the trucks as they left by placing logs in front of the vehicles.  

Former employee Bill Stockley said that action was more or less to show the company that entering or exiting the facility won't necessarily be an easy task.

He suggested the blockade by Mr. Flynn was something that happened on the spur of the moment.

"If they came in here now to take out equipment, I got no doubt there probably would have been people placed under arrest and all these kinds of things, but right now they're talking about a few bags and a few parts for trawlers."