What N.W.T. gov't workers want in their new contract

The union representing N.W.T. government workers says it will be looking for increases in its next contract, while the government says it's looking for a "financially responsible" balance.

The territorial government is negotiating a new collective agreement with the Union of Northern Workers. The contract covers about 3,900 people — almost three quarters of the government's workforce. 

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The government says it's not seeking to reduce employees' existing wages and benefits, but the first paragraph of its opening proposal to the union says "we need to find a balance between investing in our public service and being financially responsible."

The union is asking for the following:

• increases to the rates at which employees collect vacation and special leave  
• the current $2.50/hour shift premium for people working from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. to be increased to $2.75/hour
• the shift premium for people working from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. to be doubled to $5/hour
• the weekend work shift premium to be increased to $3.25/hour from $2.50/hour
• a $200/year winter clothing allowance for people who work outside during the winter months

The union says an economic package to be proposed by the union (and not yet posted online) will call for "real economic increases, protection against inflation and catching up with comparable jobs and employers."   

'The single biggest costs' = people

Former Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger predicted last fall that the territory's operating surplus — only half of which is available for capital investments — will shrink to a mere $10 million by 2019-2020. He also said "our human resources costs are the single biggest costs in the government."

But Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, said the union will do its own homework about the government's financial status.

"The union is not going to take statements made by any employer at face value. We need to do our research and confirm what the facts are so that the negotiating teams can make informed decisions," said Parsons. 

Shaleen Woodward, the territorial government's lead negotiator, says the negotiations have yet to tackle the financial aspects of the collective agreement. 

One thing the government would like in the new agreement is the power to use relief workers to fill in shifts at all of the government's operations. The current agreement limits the government to using relief workers only at 24/7 operations such as its correctional facilities and hospitals. The government wants to also be able to use relief workers at Yellowknife's primary care centre, for example.  

Negotiations — which are expected to last several weeks — continue this week. Updates are being posted online.

The current collective agreement expires in two months but its conditions will still apply if negotiations on the new contract drag on beyond that expiration date. 

The union's negotiations with another major employer in the territory, Dominion Diamond Corporation, are still going on, more than a year after that contract expired. Talks ceased for several months after each side filed complaints against the other.