Strike ends for Fort Simpson, N.W.T., housing workers 

Fort Simpson, N.W.T., housing workers have voted to end their strike Friday, after 53 days on the picket line.

The union, representing six employees, reached a three-year agreement with the Fort Simpson housing authority. 

"The strike is now over, we are happy to report that," Jose-Anne Spirito, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) regional executive vice-president for the North region, said Friday.

The new deal offers workers a five per cent wage increase in the first year and two per cent in the second and third years. It also includes extended parental leave, a land acknowledgement statement and a requirement that the employer pay for any note requested to certify sick leave.

Employees are expected to return to work as early as Monday. 

"It doesn't go quite far enough in terms of addressing all of our concerns," Spirito said, "but at the end of the day, it is a step in the right direction."

Spirito said that it took multiple rounds of negotiations and a protest at the N.W.T. legislature last month, before reaching an agreement.

Employees took to the picket lines on Oct. 1 over low wages that the union said led to overworking and burnout among employees.  

Fort Simpson Housing Authority workers serve approximately 180 housing units, providing services to Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K'e, Nahanni Butte, and Wrigley. 

Though there were service delays for tenants, Spirito says residents were still supportive to workers. 

"We definitely know that tenants in Fort Simpson have been struggling with delays and it's had an impact on them, but I think overall the community was supportive and understanding of what this fight was for," Spirito said.

Spirito says the workers' main concern was the pay disparity between the Fort Simpson housing authority and the territorial government. When wages lag, recruiting is challenged, Spirito said.

She says they weren't able to close that gap entirely but that that the new agreement is "a significant step" towards better housing for workers and families across the North.

The Fort Simpson Housing authority declined to comment on the strike's impact on the tenants, but a spokesperson told CBC that they are "happy, it's over".