Marc Danis fought for rights
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 24/01) - Popular Northern union leader and labour activist Jean-Marc Danis died on the morning of Jan 17 in Edmonton after being medevaced from Yellowknife two days earlier. He was 42.
Danis, president of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 2304, was one of the main union players during the turbulent Royal Oak-Giant Mine years. He helped create the Giant Workers Transition Centre after Royal Oak went into receivership and work at the mine all but disappeared.
He also took on the Workers Compensation Board after it filed a multi-party lawsuit against workers to recover money paid out to the widows after the fatal explosion at the mine killed nine workers.
Danis -- who was named in the lawsuit -- helped form the Workers Defence League to secure funds for worker's legal bills.
"The labour movement has lost a good man," said long-time friend Sylvain Amyotte, who serves as vice-president of Local 2304.
Government of the Northwest Territories Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jake Ootes, dealt with Danis from the other side of the table.
"I was touched by his sensitivity to workers and the reasonableness he always displayed in his approach to resolving issues," said Ootes.
According to friends and co-workers Danis put all his efforts into fighting for worker's rights. Danis did not take his position as president lightly.
"When he left at the end of the day he took a lot with him," said Steve Petersen, regional vice-president for the Federation of Labour. Petersen worked with Danis for six years in the union and eight months at the transition centre.
"When a guy came in with a grievance he took it to heart," said Petersen.
Born Feb 27, 1958 in Timmins, Ont., Danis moved to Yellowknife in 1987 after mining stints in his hometown and Red Lake, Ont.
Danis worked at Giant Mine until it 1999.
Funeral services were held this week in Timmins. Danis is survived by his wife Gail, daughter Stephanie, son Michael.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Jan 30 at 2 p.m at Northern United Place.
Donations to the family can be made in Gail Danis' name to the TD Bank.
