Union of Northern Workers wants 6 months notice of GNWT layoffs
Government says workforce adjustment process already laid out in agreement
The union representing 3,900 Northwest Territories government employees wants to know six months in advance if the government plans to lay people off, making the proposal during current contract negotiations.
The cash-strapped territorial government needs to generate $150 million over the next five years by cutting operational spending and/or increasing revenues. The Union of Northern Workers fears that means layoffs, a scenario it has steadfastly opposed.
Last week — near the end of the second round of negotiations on a new contract for those workers — the union outlined 10 principles it wants the government to follow if it decides workforce reductions are necessary.
At the top of the list is a demand that "the employer will inform the union at least six months before any workforce reduction notices are issued that it is contemplating a reduction of the workforce."
The union goes on to say that within 30 days of that notice, it wants to meet with the government to talk about alternatives to layoffs.
"We cannot accept your proposal," the government wrote back, saying the current collective agreement already lays out the process for workforce adjustments.
"No decisions have been made as to whether there will be position reductions," the government added, saying employees will be told if the 2016-2017 budget calls for layoffs before the budget is made public in the legislative assembly in late May or early June.
How layoffs are currently handled
Under the current collective agreement, the government handles layoffs in two stages.
The government first meets with an employee (and a union rep, if the worker wants that) and gives the employee notice that their job may be cut.
Over the course of two months (eight weeks), the government works with the employee to figure out if they can be placed in a vacant position or be retrained for another job.
If, by the end of those two months, those efforts prove fruitless, the worker is given formal notice that they will be laid off in three months.
Next up: money issues
The collective agreement expired last week. Its terms will continue to apply until the new agreement is signed.
The next and last round of bargaining talks currently scheduled is set to begin on May 9.
Money issues — such as requested pay raises — are expected to be the focus of latter talks.