Yellowknife (Jan 17/05) - A "dramatic increase in grievances" filed over the last few years that remain unaddressed has forced the union representing City Hall staff to break off contract negotiations last Thursday.

Their three-year collective agreement with City Hall expired Dec. 31 but it may still be some months before workers set up picket lines.

Snow removal and other city work could come to a halt if city administration and unionized staff can't work out a new collective agreement. - NNSL file photo

A strike would virtually shut down everything: snow clearing on city streets, the arenas and swimming pool, bylaw enforcement, bill collection, even parking meters would go unattended.

A skeleton staff to operate the city pumphouse would stay on the job, said Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, regional executive vice-president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

The union walked away after failing to reach an agreement following a tense second round of negotiations last week, Des Lauriers explained.

"I think there's maybe a mindset on the part of the employer to challenge the union -- to take us on," said Des Lauriers.

Why does he feel this way?

"Just the fact that over two sessions at the bargaining table almost nothing has been agreed to," Des Lauriers said.

The union will now apply to the federal Minister of Labour for a third-party conciliator to try to resolve the dispute before they are forced into a strike.

Des Lauriers said a conciliator can't make binding decisions like a federally-appointed arbitrator can.

About 180 people, including the mayor and management, work for the city. PSAC represents about 100 of those city workers, but this does not include firefighters and emergency personnel.

The union is at an impasse with City Hall over issues like employee health and safety, job security, hours of work, and protection from personal and sexual harassment, said Des Lauriers but he wouldn't go into specifics.

Declining morale

Morale has steadily declined at City Hall over the last few years, Des Lauriers said, while the number of staff grievances have risen sharply.

"We have to go to conciliation with almost a full package of issues," said Des Lauriers. "It is not a good sign."

About the only thing the union and City Hall were able to negotiate was an essential service agreement in case a conciliator can't help and a strike is called.

Some city councillors said they were surprised to hear talks had been going so badly.

"That's the first I've heard of it," said Coun. Bob Brooks. "I really don't know anything about it."

Coun. Mark Heyck said he was unaware of any trouble either, although he declined to comment due to his involvement with the Union of Northern Workers.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said he isn't worried just yet.

"It's not unexpected," Van Tighem said. "It's not unusual in the process that the city has followed in the last little while."

As for the accusation that city managers have created an increasingly unpleasant work environment, the mayor suggested it was just another union tactic to further along their cause. "They're in negotiations," said Van Tighem. "Statements will be made."