Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Apr 30/01) - Nunavut government workers are preparing to step up job action in an effort to win a new contract.
Members of the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) began a "strategic strike" April 19, opting to target individual government departments instead of a general strike.
To date, workers have hit the picket lines in Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit.
The next step will be unveiled May 2, said NEU president Doug Workman.
He declined to say what action the 1,300-member union would take, but did refute suggestions the NEU is running short on cash to pay workers strike pay.
During the current job action, striking workers receive 60 per cent of their wage.
"I've heard that was something reported to the media ... I can assure that we're not out of cash," he said.
"What we are doing is putting our resources into other forms of a strategic strike."
The union has termed the latest government offer inadequate but will put it to the 1,300 members in a ratification vote. Results are expected by May 15.
If the offer is rejected, the job action could escalate into a general strike.
