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On strike in Fort Smith
UNW president warns picketers ready to 'escalate pressure'

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 9, 2015

THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The union representing eight striking workers at the Fort Smith Housing Authority is warning it may step up picketing the homes of the authority's manager and board of directors.

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), said such so-called secondary picketing is not unusual in the labour movement.

The strikers, who walked off the job on Feb. 2, picketed the home of the housing authority's manager on Feb. 6.

"It's something we would not normally do during the first week of a strike," said Parsons. "It's something we do in an effort to escalate pressure."

He said the manager has avoided the workers' picket line by usually going to work at about 6 a.m. and leaving after the pickets are down at 6 p.m.

"So she doesn't want to encounter the picket line," he said.

However, the manager left the office at about 1 p.m. on Feb. 6 while the striking workers were warming up in their nearby trailer.

The strikers decided to go picket the manager at home, said Parsons, who wasn't in Fort Smith at the time, but was consulted on the decision.

"I will also confirm that we're considering expanding secondary picketing to board members at this point in time," he said.

Parsons said the union and the striking workers want to pressure the employer to come to the table with a reasonable offer.

"By simply going home you can't just put your head in the sand and get away from the issue," he said. "I'm very concerned, for example, that this employer has chosen not to even talk in the media. All I can characterize this person as is more in line with an ostrich."

Parsons noted the union is aware such picketing at private residences might cost some public support, although he added the striking workers are receiving "outstanding" backing from community members.

News/North was unsuccessful last week in obtaining a comment on the strike from the Fort Smith Housing Authority.

The striking workers include carpenters, plumbers, painters and others who manage and maintain approximately 150 GNWT-owned housing units.

The housing authority foreman, who is a bargaining unit member, has been designated essential and will work on an emergency basis.

The employees unanimously rejected the employer's final offer on Jan. 8 after months of contract negotiations.

The negotiations dealt with such issues as pay rates, leave allowances and housing subsidies.

Parsons said the morale on the picket line is good.

"The group itself is very unified in its resolve and there's a lot of solidarity, and community support certainly warms our hearts," he said.

However, he noted the recent cold temperatures have impeded the workers' ability to be on the picket line for extended hours day after day.

Instead, they are on the line for two hours several times each workday.

Parsons said there has been a high degree of stubbornness by the employer in the labour dispute.

"That's unfortunate because our demands are very, very reasonable, and we're not sure why the employer is taking such a hard approach against these workers that need an increase in their wages," he said. "The employer hasn't shown or expressed any willingness to return to bargaining. The ball is in their court. We have moved several times in our bargaining demands."

He added the outstanding issues do not give the union much room to move.

For example, he pointed out the union is seeking a "very small" increase in vacation travel assistance to $1,000 from $750 a year, which would be the first increase since 2003.

During the strike, the housing authority's offices have been open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each workday.

The picket line is not preventing tenants from paying their rent.

On Feb. 17, some municipal workers on strike against the Town of Hay River and other members of the UNW will be taking a bus-dubbed the "Solidarity Express"-to Fort Smith to picket with the striking workers at the housing authority.

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