Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 19/00) - Bob Haywood has decided to resign as president of the Northwest Territories NDP Association but he won't be too far from the territorial labour landscape.

Haywood, who was elected president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour during its 13th convention at the Explorer Hotel on Saturday, says he will give up his NDP position in the next month or two because he doesn't have time for both commitments.

"I just don't want to do both things. It's just too much, so I'm just going to concentrate on the Federation of Labour," said Haywood.

"The NDP is up and running and there are good people involved in that so it's easy to step back and let other people take over."

Haywood said he will stay with the NDP association as a general member.

Currently employed as a membership secretary for the Union of Northern Workers, Haywood is a member of Steelworkers Local 8646.

His first goal as president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour will be to improve communication lines between all locals and unions affiliated with the federation.

"We just have to communicate better and find out what's happening in all of these places so that we can respond and bring the issues forward," he said.

He is especially interested in establishing a better relationship with unions in Nunavut.

"There is a lot happening there, there are a lot of issues there. They haven't been ignored, it's just we haven't had a strong voice coming from Nunavut and it's a new territory. There are lots of new things that could be done."

For both the NWT and Nunavut, Haywood would like to set up several different committees that would focus on specific issues such as human rights legislation or women's issues.

But it's a little too early for Haywood to say exactly what his game plan will entail.

"I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed. I just want to raise the profile of the federation -- that's what I'm trying to do."