Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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Volume 64 • Issue 47
Community Solidarity Shines Amid Ongoing CUPW Strike and Christmas Delivery Delays
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Photo by Matthias J. Johnson Striking postal workers in Thompson receive a pizza delivery courtesy of Local 8223 Steel Workers Union representative Jason, a gesture of solidarity as the CUPW strike enters its fourth week. Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. BY MATTHIAS J. JOHNSON time of year where in negotiations, rather than significant moves aimed sistence that our facility CUPW negotiations may THOMPSON CITIZEN Christmas it may be have hard work towards constructbridging the safe gapsthing that cleaning staff and various to feel as BY IAN GRAHAM For allsome the harsh weather to write things that you ‘Oh, I’m just asabad, right?’ at was not a very swallow when people say cause STAFF REPORTER on families, and Iclear just ive resolution benefits and successsupport servi- though postalofworkEDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to fisome gure out. It’s pretty I have all thesethat stories and have to do arisen but I jumped at it. I contracted that Churchill residents and the the dangers polar Even though the written work- wanted to offer my support all parties involved. reaching negotiated be just made aredeMeulles taking their Though she’s now when I get through.” I need to capture them for fully thought that was exciting ces should findpermanent somewhere ers bears, saidfrusif it ers involved be to DeMeulles them,” emphasizing the In light of this, Canada agreements. Despite these employees of Canada Post, trations out on citizens a book about hermight experiensaid she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would seen as undermining the importance of community has they conducted thorthe union has unraises significant are facing the same ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in Post because will bealost if efforts, they started throwing the which “To say, ‘Those people who have moved back to Churchfestive spiritFoundation of Christmas compassion the ough review of the pro- fortunately reverted to operational concerns. pinch, but the reAddictions of and the Wind: Storiesduring from the fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They financial ill in a heartbeat. I don’t.” by delaying the delivery season. concerning both the its positions or should Moreover, Canada Post sponse from Manitoba northern director holiday North - Life in Churchill for posals She also has a reputation cats,previous I was probably sitting just leave,’ is quite “I miss the individuals shoreline, I of crucial packages, it is a couple Turning the ongoing Urban and RSMC (Rural even intensified its de- is bracing It’s for yet another reminds usthe of Gisele deMeulles said writof to reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. quite disre- like miss Jason the rock, I miss heartening observe that it is and Suburban making it more financial power of solidarity and ing wasn’t to something she CUPW “I justnegotiations, sort of thought, Another thing that substantial spectful. If we were inloss the the polar bears even though “I had such a Mail variedCarhis- mands, some individuals andwould com- crucial to what, note that units challenging theboat upcoming yeararea of compassion. It is essential always thought she tory andbargaining I would tell people spurred her to onfind wascomthe in you know this with his- riers) same in another they’re very dangerous and munity members are still the strike initiated plans disseminate This Churchill situation 2024, sev- for bothmiss parties seek a do. tory,national this stuff that’s in my and hard ground. times facing I think marking we wouldthe scream I really thetoHudson stories and to they would go, mon stepping to offer their by theit’s Canadian of more concerning, annual “In myupyouth I never head, going toUnion be gone since the Hudsonespecially Bay Rail- enth ‘That’sdetailed not true,information is it?’ I’d go, is about consecutive that so why don’t they constructive Bay,” she says. resolution “When I go support this chal(CUPW) the earliest one considers that loss Corporation. not only addresses felt goodduring at writing,” she Postal if I don’tWorkers write it down,” she at ‘Yeah it’s true.’opportunity. They’d go, when have for the the option to do that? that back home, standing on the way suspended operations lenging time. For instance, extending into its However, it is important to postal services across the Since the year 2018, the the concerns of the out worksaid. “But when I moved now said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking on Jason, a representative week, union’s a sense of be realism are adapting con- company incurred but also to Thompson to get into fourth you? You’ve got to really globe “It used to be a really feeling like has they’re pawns ers the bay, it justconsiders gives youthe an ing to get it if the I don’t do it convey from the Local 8223work, Steel latest proposal has unfortufostering false structively evolving losses exceeding a stagof the communities the school of social and it’s something I’ve al- and old.’ avoid I was like, ‘No, actually thriving largetocommunity in a political game and that’s needs incredible sense. You feel so Workers Union taken my significant among em- customer and gering $3for billion. This on-I and businesses that at that point I hadNumber, to write nately ways wanted mom to hope I did all that affected before I was and it’s just demands dwindled down really sad them because smallsmall and you feel great.” took the initiative to bring steps small businesses, Contrary to going financial heavily on postal for university and realized, do. Mybackward mom’s ancompared elder and ployees, 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” preferences. to such a small population think the people ofstruggle Church- rely Now that she’s got pizza thenot striking prior CanCUPW’s thetopressing we navigate ‘Holy,to I’m bad atworkthis, to she’s an discussions. artist, she’s got so charitable now,”trend, deMeulles says. de- underscores one book As under her belt, Looking organizations, back, some of this ill really want thrive. services. ers as Iacertainly gesturedeveloped of local ada Post finds itself facing communities appear to not reinforce for built a viable sus- these complicated right?’ many wonderful stories be- and thosenorthern experiences are things mands Though she’s there need They’ve theirand worlds deMeulles says she dynammay try solidarity in Thompson. had been anticipating the status quo and and tainable resolution fostering open diaa lot of skill in university great causedisappointment she always tellsupon her that she might not do again. anyexisting longer, her parents there. How would we that feel ics, to produce another. Jason “I with just receiving the latest offers these introduce substantial and can stabilize thetoorganizandanother mutual book underand cameremarked, out of there stories at Parks Canada in a swift “I didresolution some prettytobizarre her sister and other family if someone came you and logue “I have in seen these guysskill out in in my the from CUPW, thealways appar- pressing issues. long-term ation’s operations will“It’s be akey to a very strong Churchill andasI’ve stuff like fuel hauls into the unsustainable said, ‘I’m sorry, youmoving have to standing me,” she says. darker members still are. cold,” intention Over theat past few fixed into owns the equasustainable writing highlighting and confidencehis in ent hounded her, behind ‘Please,these just high Arctic -35,” said “Mycosts cousin the forward. leave your home community achieving story, more aabout personawareness of Itheir seems to write widen Canada Postdawn has tion. One notable example The ongoing and path forward forstruggles. everyone my writing. writeplight. very proposals put it on tape, I will it weeks, deMeulles. “It didn’t hardware store there,” she and we’re going strike to displace al growth and He “It’s justthere. that the gapsbecause that exist the made strategic anda of this is the continued in- the within clearadded, and that’s it. It’s for you yourinstory on me several until after. That was says. you challenges somewhere else andthe all involved. Maybe in the next five years Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”