The Union of Northern Workers elected its new executive at the 16th UNW Triennial Convention, held Oct.17 to 19 in Yellowknife. In the front row are Deh Cho regional vice-president Christina Holman, left, first vice-president Gayla Thunstrom, second vice-president Marie Buchanan and Fort Smith regional vice-president Lauraine Armstrong. In the back row are Somba K'e regional vice-president Alex Lambrecht, Kimberlite regional vice-president Ivan Landry, North Great Slave regional vice-president Chris Potyok, president Todd Parsons, Beaufort Delta/Sahtu regional vice-president Val Robertson, equity vice-president Miriam Gordon, and Hay River regional vice-president Roy Courtoreille. - photo courtesy of Union of Northern Workers |
Parsons still union's top dog
Union of Northern Workers members re-elect Todd Parsons as president
Elaine Anselmi
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 22, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Union of Northern Workers Triennial Convention was held over the weekend, seeing incumbent president Todd Parsons re-elected to the organization's top position.
Todd Parsons: Seeing the union's home-base completed is a key priority - |
"I have now started my fifth term with the Union of Northern Workers, as president," Parsons told Yellowknifer. "The first time I ran I was challenged, that was in 2002, I have been acclaimed for three conventions, and then this time there was a challenger and I was grateful for the confidence that was expressed by the members."
Former second vice-president, Frank Walsh, was the challenger in the election, which saw Parsons win with a two-thirds majority.
As well as the presidential vote, Miriam Gordon was named equity vice-president, and regional vice presidents were elected for the 2014 to 2017 term. The elected regional vice-presidents are: Alex Lambrecht for Sombe K'e Chris Potyok in North Great Slave, Lauraine Armstrong in Fort Smith, Roy Courtoreille in Hay River, Val Robertson in Beaufort Delta/Sahtu, Christina Holman in Deh Cho and Ivan Landry in Kimberlite.
Moving forward into his next term, Parsons said seeing the union's home-base completed was a key priority.
"We have our building project, which is ongoing, and we need to focus on completion of that project," said Parsons. "We're hoping to move into the new building in just over a year ... I would think it's going to be a cornerstone of Yellowknife, as well as symbolic of the foundation provided through being a union, proud to support communities throughout the North."
Support, both for local communities and beyond, was shown at the convention with two major fundraisers taking place during the three-day convention.
Lynn Brooks' Safe Place for Women was the recipient of a $10,000 donation - half was raised through a silent auction including delegates and guests during the convention social event Saturday night, the other half matched by the organization itself.
"On the UNW convention floor on Sunday, one of the delegates spoke about fundraising for Ebola emergency contributions to Doctors Without Borders," said Parsons. "On the convention floor, individuals reached into their pockets, many locals made contributions and when we did the tally it was $10,000."
Parsons said the convention also saw strong support for leaders and would-be leaders within the union, putting $50,000 towards a leadership development program and $25,000 into a new shop steward networking conference, among others.
UNW communications officer Craig Yeo said there was a strong theme of anti-privatization throughout the weekend.
"The (Northern Employee Benefits Services) bill is something we'll continue fighting very hard at the UNW," said Yeo. An emergency resolution was passed on the floor to support the fight for public jobs in health care and oppose privatization.
Also within health care, a resolution was passed in regards to the Canadian Health Accord - the agreement between the federal government, and territories and provinces to allow for equal access to health care.
The deal expired this year, and the federal government announced $36 billion in cuts over 10 years, said Yeo.
The language of the resolution asserts that the conservative government is seeking to privatize health care in Canada, and underlines the need to lobby Northern MPs to re-negotiate the agreement. Parsons said both motions passed unanimously.
"It was an overwhelming tone and talked about by many delegates on the convention floor, the privatization of quality public services," said Parsons. "It was talked about that there is no room for profit in
public services."
