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Hunger strike may end

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (Apr 24/06) - There may be a deal to end the hunger strike of a former Chesterfield Inlet teacher.

Francis Mazhero began his hunger strike on Feb. 16 to protest the way he lost his job as a teacher at Victor Sammurtok school.

Mazhero said he lost his job in 2002 over unfounded allegations of sexual misconduct.

He said the 14-year-old girl who made the allegations later recanted her accusations and the family wrote a letter of apology to him.

A bitter legal battle raged over the past four years, which saw Mazhero file numerous statements of claim with the courts against the Nunavut government and the Federation of Nunavut Teachers (FNT).

His inability to move his claims forward led to Mazhero going on a hunger strike.

Things seemed quite bleak on April 16 when Mazhero's health, already in a greatly-weakened state, took a turn for the worst.

Mazhero suffered a massive bowel movement and had to be medevaced back to the Churchill Health Centre.

"A massive bowel movement is not good in my situation," Mazhero told News/North shortly before being medevaced.

"The 10 Irish hunger strikers who died in 1981 all experienced a bowel movement before the end.

"The bowel movement means the body is preparing to go into shock, followed by cardiac arrest or something equally serious."

His medical condition was unknown at press time.

The picture brightened considerably, however, when Mazhero was told by the FNT that it was prepared to move forward with three of his grievances and seek an arbitration date with the government.

The federation will represent Mazhero on his claim of unfair dismissal, his denial of relocation claims and his defamation suit against the government.

FNT president Jimmy Jacquard said the federation has the mandate to bring forward grievances on behalf of all its members.

He said the FNT pursued Mazhero's grievances in accordance with its mandate until the process was halted due to Mazhero's unwillingness to participate in the arbitration or to co-operate with the federation.

"We have always been willing to continue with the arbitration process," said Jacquard.

"As it now appears Mr. Mazhero is willing to participate and co-operate, we have requested the Government of Nunavut to provide its available dates for the arbitration to proceed."

An arbitration date had still not been set as of press time.