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Northern union president acclaimed for third time
Todd Parsons elected to fourth term despite contentious 2009 dispute with United Steelworkers Local 8646 Thandie Vela Northern News Services Published Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011
This is the third time the former GNWT firefighter has been acclaimed since he was first elected president of the union in 2002. Parsons was sworn in at the union's annual convention, which took place the weekend of Friday, Oct. 21, at the Explorer Hotel. "I'm very excited and happy to be acclaimed at our 15th triennial convention," Parsons said. "It was obvious to me that there is a large degree of support from the delegation for my leadership and it was a very exciting time to have gone to the convention and see the level of support that there is in the UNW membership." Jeff Kallichuk, United Steelworkers Local 8646 bargaining unit representative, said "the United Steelworkers congratulate Mr. Parsons on his acclamation and look forward to working closely with him over the next three years in developing the labour issues of working people in the Northwest Territories over his next term." Kallichuk said there is "no lingering tensions between the United Steelworkers in general and the UNW," following a 2009 dispute which saw 10 striking United Steelworkers locked out by the union. Parsons said he does not feel that he lost support after the lock-out. "It's very hard for a unionist to change hats and actually be an employer," Parsons said, calling the event the most challenging learning he has had to undertake. "Because as a unionist, it's certainly within me to be fair, equitable, and respectful of workers. And just because in that instance I was representing an employer those ideals were in the forefront of my thoughts." Parsons said he plans to continue with the current direction that the union is moving in, toward greater presence in the workplaces of all the employers it represents and working with communities throughout the NWT. Before taking over the role from past president Georgina Rolt-Kaiser in 2002, Parsons served as a regional vice president for the union, while working full time as a fire fighter with the Yellowknife Airport fire department. It was a back injury Parsons suffered during a fire training exercise that got him into the union movement, he said. "Like many union activists that get involved in the union, they do so, as I did, as a result of an unhappy workplace," Parsons said. "And the way I had been treated and interacted with primarily due to an injury that occurred at the workplace. I felt I wasn't being supported, which increased my interest to protect what my worker rights would be." Parsons went on to educate himself of his rights and responsibilities by reading the Canada Labour Code from cover to cover, he said, and becoming familiar with the existing collective agreement. "I certainly found myself to be very, very interested, excited that I could affect positive change by my involvement in the union," he said. Also sworn in at the three-day convention was first vice-president incumbent Gayla Thunstrom, who was elected to her third mandate after a "hotly contested" election including four candidates. About 50 delegates from across the Northwest Territories took part in the convention, which also included a health and safety forum. The union, which represents more than 5,500 members across NWT, is mandated by its bylaws to hold a convention and election every three years.
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