Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Feb 11/02) - Employees of Fort Smith's friendship centre wanting out of their union are frustrated by the union's response.

A January letter to the Union of Northern Workers from Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre employees asked for decertification. But the request is being met with stone-walling, they say.

"They said you can't just write a letter, that it's a legal process," according to Louise Beck, one of seven unionized Uncle Gabe's employees.

PSAC vice-president Jean Francois Des Lauriers, speaking on behalf of the UNW, has little sympathy.

"We're not in the business of facilitating members to decertify," he said.

He said he doesn't know what's involved.

"I organize people. I don't push them out of the union."

"It goes against the best interests of the union and the members to decertify."

Members "will have to go out and find out for themselves" how to leave, Des Lauriers said.

Petition needed

In the absence of a territorial government labour department, workers can apply to decertify their union membership to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The board's communication manager, Sylvie Riverin, said there are conditions and an investigation to ensure the majority want to decertify a particular union as their exclusive bargaining agent.

A petition is needed and in most cases, a secret ballot vote is held.

Beck said, "I was upset by some of the comments" made by a Fort Smith UNW representative.

She said phone calls being received from the union are "intimidating" and "rude."

"That letter obviously isn't good enough but we shouldn't have to chase people ... they just don't want to tell us what's involved."

Employees said they unionized just over two years ago to fend off poorly-skilled management. The work environment improved three months ago, when a new executive director was hired.

"We don't want to be part of a union in a non-profit organization," said Tanya Hoffman, another employee.

She said it felt "inappropriate" taking a call at home from a UNW representative who wanted a private Saturday meeting.

The workers' collective agreement expired Dec. 31.

Uncle Gabe's executive director George Newman, said if the agreement had been honoured, the centre would be bankrupted by a clause that gives each employee $5,400 a year toward buying a house.

He said several things in the workers' contract violates the centre's funding agreement.

Des Lauriers countered the union takes those things into consideration when bargaining.

He said a meeting had been arranged, but Uncle Gabe's employees cancelled it.

"They closed the door on any further communication. But the door is always open."