Twenty years of Donny Days
Two decades in, GNWT staff enjoy extra five days off that used to be forced unpaid leave
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Donny Days are here again but Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, says it might be time for a makeover.
Todd Parsons, President of the Union of Northern Workers, says his union worked long and hard to turn a cost-cutting measure into an extra five days of paid leave for GNWT employees. |
"I know some of the workforce still likes to refer to it as Donny Days but Donny doesn't pay, Todd pays," he said.
The five paid days off for all territorial government employees might not be rechristened "Todd Days" anytime soon but the program has changed a lot since former NWT premier Don Morin introduced them in 1996
as a cost-cutting measure.
"It was a salary cutback," explained Bronwyn Watters, deputy minister of the Department of Human Resources.
"It's well established, it's part of the GNWT functioning, it has been for 20 years now."
When the program first started, 1.92 per cent was deducted from employees biweekly paycheques to cover the five days offices would be closed.
Just over a decade after Donny Days started however, the Union of Northern Workers began negotiations to make the days paid leave. By 2009, all five days were covered.
"The union agreed in lieu of wages we self funded that one week period at Christmas time," said Parsons. "In lieu of economic increases, for example one particular year we might have accepted a two-per-cent increase instead of a 2.5 increase so that we could fund that leave ourselves. It took us two or three rounds of collective bargaining to fully integrate it. It's regular paid leave now."
All GNWT employees are entitled to the five days off, bringing the holiday shutdown to a total of eight days, including Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's, although some employees will take the time later in the year, instead of during the holidays.
But while employees might like the extra time, non-government employees might find themselves waiting for services until the new year. Watters said that's not such a big deal, however.
She said there are contingencies in place for people to be able to access essential programs during Donny Days.
As for non-essential services, she said the holiday shutdown is part of doing business in the NWT.
"There are contingencies put in place but yes, there are some things which will not happen over the break. Because this has been in place for so long, it's very much an established part of operations, just like people know that offices are closed on statutory holidays. It's part of how people operate," she said.
"Notices are sent out long in advance and people are given lots of warning."
Parsons is sympathetic to businesses or residents who might be stymied by a five-day government shutdown.
"I would think that any reasonable government should be planning around extended periods of closure and be able to provide necessary services to businesses and the territorial residents. That could be as simple as changing a policy or a regulation," he said.
But he said the program isn't all doom and gloom for people who don't work for the GNWT.
"There's positive impacts as well. You've got the majority of the public service who are taking time off through Christmas while spending is increased," said Parsons.
"They're in those smaller businesses investing in the Northern small businesses and it's a great opportunity. In many cases it's a win for those smaller businesses to have that extra business at a critical time of year that can make or break a business."
Donny Days run this year from Dec. 22 to 30.
