Marystown workers slam 'cold, heartless' OCI

Workers in Marystown continued to guard the gates of their fish plant Monday.

Ocean Choice International announced on Friday it was closing the plants in Marystown and Port Union.

In all, more than 400 workers will be thrown out of a job.

"They've lied to us right from day one," said Marystown worker Teresa Power, 59. "They have not (held) up to any of their commitments whatsoever. They're very cold, heartless, calculating people."

Bill Stockley, 63, has worked at the plant for more than four decades. "I basically know nothing other than working in a fish plant," he said. "I've got a mortgage. So my problem, I guess, is what am I going to do for the next two or three years?"

Stockley said there are many other workers in their fifties and sixties who shouldn't have to go back to school for retraining.

In the meantime, OCI president Martin Sullivan says the company has every intention to assist workers, noting that a meeting had been scheduled for Mondaywith Fisheries Minister Darin King. "That's number one on our agenda," Sullivan said. [MORE:Read a column by Martin Sullivanon OCI's decision.]

OCI also plans to sit down with Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union officials on Tuesday.

The Marystown workers are taking shifts on a picket line, guarding the plant.

They're afraid that OCI will take equipment out of the building before it has a chance to listen to the union's options.