Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 03/99) - The battle between the GNWT and government workers' unions over a pay-equity settlement has also become a battle of words and loyalties.

Following an appearance before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in Ottawa last month, both the GNWT and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which filed suit on behalf of the Union of Northern Workers, have levied charges of time-wasting and misrepresentation of the facts.

"The tribunal has not scheduled 200 hearing days -- it has scheduled 45 hearing days commencing August 23, 1999," the UNW wrote in a Jan. 28 news release, challenging the GNWT's assertion that the tribunal hearings might stretch over a four-year period.

The release also questions the GNWT's latest individual settlement offers, which expire March 5.

"Do you believe the GNWT would pay you money now if they thought they would owe you less based upon the tribunal's decision?" the UNW writes.

Speaking from Ottawa on Friday, PSAC president Daryl Bean said the GNWT is banking on workers' impatience.

"They showed their true colours by arguing (the hearings) will take four years," he said. "It need not, but they may delay it as did Canada Post, hoping individual members will sign off."

Bean said only the Canadian Human Rights Council can rule whether the GNWT's offer is valid.

"The reason (PSAC) won't sign off or send a vote out to members is if it doesn't apply to Human Rights guidelines, it is illegal, and we could end up being liable along with the employer," he said.

But at least one government worker has lost patience with the process and said Friday he would accept the individual settlement offer.

"There's no question in my mind I'm going to accept it, and I think you're going to find that most of those 5,000 people are going to sign off," said Jim Lynn at the Workers' Compensation Board office in Yellowknife.

A 10-year veteran WCB worker, Lynn said he believes hundreds of workers have already settled.

"Most members are saying that if they take the $15,000 or $20,000 offered now and invest it today, they'll get more than they would if they wait 10 years from now," he said, clearly not anticipating a quick settlement in court.

Lynn said much of his frustration stems from the UNW's inability to quote him the figure he's owed under union methodology. He also said the UNW dispute has been taken over by outside interests.

"Daryl Bean certainly doesn't speak for many of us," he said. "We're being dictated to and run by the PSAC, we're being dictated to by the south."