NUNAVUT - High Arctic communities got a chance to voice their transportation concerns to two territorial ministers touring the region in early October.

Minister of Transportation Peter Taptuna and Minister of Environment Daniel Shewchuk in front of the new Arctic Bay Airport. - photo courtesy of Ron Elliot

The meeting, set to run Oct. 25-28 will now be Nov. 1-5, he said.

The NEU is representing about 25 full-time, part-time and casual hamlet workers in Resolute who joined the union last fall and are negotiating to get a collective agreement.

Beginning in February, negotiations reached an impasse in June and on Oct. 15 the hamlet workers voted to take strike action.

This was forestalled when the hamlet agreed to the negotiations in October. Both sides of the negotiating table were pragmatic about the postponement.

"It's going to be nice when it's all over and done with," said Resolute SAO and negotiator Duncan Walker, of the week delay.

"I have a feeling (the employees) are probably a little anxious wondering what's going to happen, looking forward to an agreement being in place."

"Of course we're disappointed but at the same time, that's one of the challenges we have in Nunavut," said Workman, of the delay due to weather. "It's one of those things we all have to cope with."

The major issues on the negotiating table are wage and benefit increases. The employees work in various capacities in the hamlet, including postal service and garbage collection.