Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 06/02) - The longest-serving member of the Union of Northern Workers said a tearful farewell last weekend to the union she has been with since it started.

A teary-eyed Josie Gould accepts a plaque recognizing her years of service to the UNW from outgoing president Georgina Rolt-Kaiser. Gould has been with the UNW since it started. - Nathan VanderKlippe/NNSL photo

Called by some the "matriarch of the UNW," Josie Gould said she was leaving the union for health reasons, which forced her to retire from work with the GNWT in 1993.

She spent 32 years working for the government, moving between the Departments of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Justice, and Safety and Public Services.

"I admired her for her effort, her fight, her spirit," said Grant Paziuk, a delegate to the UNW convention this weekend. "She is the ultimate example of giving back to your organization for the membership. She'll be remembered forever -- as long as there's a UNW."

Gould served as Somba K'e regional vice-president of the union for the past nine years. During her 32 years with the union she served in just about every capacity except president.

She was the first secretary-treasurer of Local 1, and later became president of the local.

She was hired as alternate regional vice-president in 1991, then regional vice-president in 1993.

"She is the kind of activist who rolls up her sleeves to get things done," said outgoing UNW president Georgina Rolt-Kaiser.

For her efforts, Gould was presented a life membership in the union and a plaque in recognition of her more than three decades of dedicated service. A new $15,000 UNW scholarship fund was also created in her name. This year, that fund gave $5,000 scholarships to three university students.

Time to retire

Having reached retirement age and pained by a respiratory illness that leaves her short of oxygen, the diminutive Gould still packs the verve that once made her a proud and outspoken union activist.

Asked about her career, she quickly zeroed in on one event that incited her to serious activism.

"I became especially active when I was a victim of abuse in the workplace," she said.

She said she returned to her office one day after a dispute with management in which she was accused of keeping messy files. She later proved to her manager that her files were immaculate -- and that she had no backlog.

But she said when she came to her office in the Department of Justice after having back surgery, she found her filing cabinet drawers pulled out and turned upside down on the floor.

"I was instructed to pick them up, and the government got away with it."

"That's what made me really become active," she said, adding she once deliver pro-union pamphlets to every member of the legislative assembly while they were in session.

When receiving the award, Gould issued a challenge to delegates present, reminding them to "never be disappointed if a task seems overwhelming. Your efforts do make a difference."

"I hope you people carry the ball well," she said.

"I wish this union nothing but the best. I can see this is the only union to belong to. Any little you can do, it always helps ... Thank you and goodbye."