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Practising picketing

Union ready to strike if agreement not reached

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 26/01) - Workers picketed in front of the Nunavut legislative assembly last Friday morning.

The municipal and territorial government workers want to send the message to their employers that they are organized and getting mobilized in case collective agreement negotiations are unsuccessful.

Both the municipality of Iqaluit and Government of Nunavut workers are represented by the Nunavut Employees Union, and are in the process of negotiating collective agreements.

Union president Doug Workman said territorial workers could go on strike as early as April 6.

"According to the Public Service Act, we have to give 48-hours notice of our first strike action," said Workman. "The key thing is to be prepared for the worst case scenario."

"Our whole point in this exercise is to get a better collective agreement than what is currently being offered," said Workman.

The union is considering two types of strike action. The first is a general strike - all union members would go out at the same time - and strikers will get $50 a day in strike pay. The second involves rotational strikes. Workman said if the union chooses that route, workers will receive a percentage of their gross salary.

He added the union had recently signed off the essential services agreement, and that about 100-150 union members would be prevented from picketing because their services are crucial to the health and safety of the public and basic operation of the territory.

Workman said if workers did strike, the government has the right to change the terms and conditions of employment. That means the government could take away the housing benefits of workers on the picket line.

"In theory, they could (take away employees' housing). Will they? Could they? Kick people out of their homes? That's bizarre," said Workman.

"If they do, these politicians better be looking for another constituency. People remember things like that."