Fort Simpson Housing Authority workers vote to strike if mediation fails

Workers at the Fort Simpson Housing Authority have voted unanimously in favour of striking after a tentative deal wasn't reached with their employer. 

In a news release Friday, the Public Service Alliance of Canada — the umbrella union of the Union of Northern Workers — said the members of Local 13 met on Tuesday to review the latest collective bargaining updates. 

The strike vote doesn't mean a strike will happen, but it does help clear the way for one if the unions exhausts other efforts to reach an agreement with the housing authority.

The unions are set to begin mediation Aug. 20 with the housing authority to try to avoid a strike.

"The union remains hopeful the employer will return to the bargaining table with a mandate to secure a contract that addresses the key outstanding issues for members," the news release stated.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada confirmed in an email there are seven workers in the bargaining unit.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada specified a number of issues, mostly related to low wages, which the union said has made it hard to recruit maintenance and repair staff like certified plumbers and oil burner mechanics.

"Workers are demanding that the employer come to the table with economic increases that reflect the value of their work and will enable the longer-term recruitment and retention of employees," the news release stated.

"Consistently low wages that fail to reflect the difficult realities of living in the North have meant years of staffing shortages for the Housing Authority, causing overwork and burnout for workers and ultimately leading to poorer service for families who rely on this housing."

The housing authority's collective agreement expired last year, and negotiations began in March.