I was elected President of NAPE, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees, on May 16, 2003.
Following several years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, I became a NAPE member in 1968 when I started work as a correctional officer. Within weeks I was actively involved in my NAPE Local as a shop steward, rising to become Local president.
I represented the correctional officers on NAPE’s provincial board of directors from 1979 to 1980. I served on NAPE’s provincial board as eastern vice president from 1980 to 1983, during which time I led the establishment of affirmative action positions for women on NAPE’s board.
In 1983, I joined NAPE’s staff as an employee relations officer, and in 1999 became NAPE’s senior negotiator. As a staff member I have negotiated more contracts, organized more groups, and arbitrated more grievances than anyone else in NAPE’s history. My win record in arbitration cases in one of the best in Canada.
I also helped develop the strategy for NAPE’s last round of public sector negotiations (in 2001), negotiating one of the largest settlements in NAPE’s history.
