Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 04/05) - For the last two weeks, an administrator from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has been in Iqaluit to oversee affairs of the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU).

In a letter sent to members on June 16, PSAC national president Nycole Turmel said, "Questions have surfaced with regard to NEU's ability to implement convention decisions and fully represent members."

John Gordon, national executive vice-president of PSAC in Ottawa, will be at the Iqaluit head office for several weeks as the audit is done.

NEU executive will remain in place during the review process.

The Nunavut labour group officially formed on April 1, 1999, and represents 2,700 workers across Nunavut and is a component of PSAC.

The matter is an internal issue, said NEU president Doug Workman. He had no comment to offer at this time.

Turmel's letter said, "The decision of the PSAC national board of directors was not an easy one to make, but a full review of the internal affairs of NEU is needed to ensure that NEU-PSAC members are properly represented."

PSAC regional executive vice-president for the North reiterated the matter is an internal affair.

"We have been in direct communication with NEU members and will continue to update them as the audit is completed," said Jean-Francois Des Lauriers.

"The audit is strictly administrative and there is no inferred or real financial impropriety."

There is no set time-frame for the audit, but it is being conducted as expediently as possible, he said.