Malcolm Gomill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 08/00) - A miner's wife is continuing her hunger strike as two representatives from Morneau Sobeco, a subsidiary of the firm managing the pension plan at Yellowknife Giant mine, prepares to hold public meetings today (Wednesday) in Yellowknife.

Pensioners are bracing for a cutback of 25 per cent come April 1 due to the fund being underfunded.

The first meeting takes place at 2 p.m. and the second takes place at 7 p.m. at the Canadian AutoWorkers Local 2304 office in the Polar Bowl Building.

Kosta began her hunger strike Feb. 29 and said Monday she plans to keep fasting.

"I'm going to stay on this 'til the government responds, hopefully 'til they respond with more than just a vague promise," Kosta said.

"These are our elders. They shouldn't be treated like this. They're old people, they worked all their lives at that mine."

Miners have also started an online petition calling for help on the issue, which can be reached at http://www. petitiononline.com/pgmca/petition.html

Yellowknife city councillor Ben MacDonald said he sympathizes with Kosta.

"The issue that she's drawing attention to is one that needs national attention," MacDonald said.

"The treatment of working people in bankruptcies, and especially of their pension and how their pensions are covered in these situations, need work."

MLA Jake Ootes said he's written to Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew voicing his concerns.

"I'd have to refer to that as an MLA, rather than a member of the executive," Ootes said.

"Ethel definitely is working on this situation and she's very concerned about the situation. I've written a letter encouraging Ethel to continue her discussions with federal officials."

Blondin-Andrew, who has discussed the pension issue with Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert Nault and Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions) Jim Peterson, was away on business Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the first vice-president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour is urging the public to attend the meetings with the Morneau Sobeco representatives.

Steve Petersen said, "It's very important it's hammered home that it's not an issue that the workers brought on themselves."