Councillor won't cross picket line
Association of communities conference location changed due to ongoing Hay River strike
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A city councillor says he won't be making a planned trip to a community government meeting on the Hay River Reserve because he does not want to cross the Hay River town workers' picket line.
"If there is a picket line, I will not cross it," said Coun. Phil Moon Son on Friday.
He's one of two city representatives who had planned to head south for the Northwest Territories Association of Communities annual general meeting May 7 to 10.
The meeting brings together community officials to talk about common issues. Several GNWT cabinet ministers, including the premier, are also expected to attend.
The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in the town of Hay River, however the association's board of directors voted April 15 to move the conference to facilities on the adjacent reserve because of the ongoing strike.
Representatives from the Village of Fort Simpson and the Town of Inuvik will not be attending the meeting because of the picket line.
The strike by town employees, members of the Union of Northern Workers, began Feb. 9. Talks have collapsed and last month the town rejected binding arbitration. A newsletter produced by the union states the meeting will be picketed wherever it takes place.
An association statement Monday stated "the NWTAC is anticipating a productive, peaceful event, unhindered by either party in the ongoing strike dispute."
Coun. Bob Brooks, who is also on the association's board of directors, still plans to attend.
On Monday he spoke to the union's president.
"I made it known to Todd Parsons that as a city councillor and as the city's rep on the NWTAC board I will be attending the (meeting), especially since I am a board member and have been organizing this conference," Brooks said Monday.
He said the association has done everything it can to steer clear of the strike.
"We're hoping the union and the town can work out their differences," Brooks said. "We're trying to stay out of the way of those negotiations. We don't want to interfere with them."
City hall spokesperson Richard McIntosh, told Yellowknifer by e-mail the mayor is not scheduled to attend and no staff will be attending.
Several territorial politicians plan to attend the meeting, including Premier Bob McLeod and Health Minister Glen Abernethy. Senator Nick Sibbeston is also speaking at the conference.
Resolutions under consideration at the meeting include whether the GNWT should change the teacher/student ratio, the community funding formula, ambulance service and access to information legislation.
