Union, employer pause for report
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Apr 16/01) - Government workers will wait and see what a mediator says before they take the next step in their contract fight.
Throughout contract negotiations and the recent mediation sessions, Nunavut Employees Union president Doug Workman has repeatedly said they were ready to walk off the job if they didn't get the financial package they were looking for.
But, when the second round of mediation wrapped up on April 8, instead of issuing the required 48-hours strike notice, Workman said they were going to wait and see what mediator Tom Hodges had to say in his final report.
"We want to get a clear message from the mediator before we give our strike notice," said Workman.
He said the union's negotiating team was not happy with the government's offer because it didn't reflect the current cost of living.
"It's a flawed formula," said Workman. "The numbers are already old."
Hodges' report should be ready in a few weeks time.
While they wait, union leaders will review their options and hold a membership vote on the government's current offer.
"We're getting calls from our membership that they want to go on strike," said Workman.
"We'll wait and prepare."
Garry Pinto, the government's director of labour relations, said they were also waiting to hear from the mediator.
"With these things, you just have to wait to hear back," said Pinto.
