Bob Desjarlais was a prominent labour leader in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, having served as president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 6166 in the 1990s.
[1] He represented Inco workers through difficult contract negotiations in 1999, which included an extended lockout and community polarization.
[2] Shortly after the contract was settled, Inco announced that it would expand operations, and keep the Birchtree Mine open for at least another fifteen years.
In 1996, he represented the Steelworkers in merger talks with the United Auto Workers and the International Association of Machinists.
[5] Four years later, he was cheered at a meeting of the Canadian Labour Congress for criticizing Buzz Hargrove's suggestion that the CLC consider withdrawing its support from the New Democratic Party.