Wage increase, higher Northern allowance in three-year contract
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (May 28/01) - Nunavut government workers will get a pay raise and increased Northern living benefits after approving a new three-year contract.
The majority of Nunavut's 1,300 unionized public service employees voted to accept the government's "final offer" collective agreement.
The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon by NEU president Doug Workman and Human Resources Minister Kelvin Ng. Workman released the news in Iqaluit while Ng made the announcement in Cambridge Bay during the legislative session.
When questioned after announcing the settlement, Ng said he was happy the offer was accepted.
"We're pleased with the results," said Ng, adding that he hadn't been sure if workers were going to accept the offer. Rumours flew across the territory in the last few weeks as union members reviewed the offer and voted. Some said the wording on the vote was unclear
"We had heard different things," said Ng.
"You never know, like any other vote, until it's finally announced. We expected it, but then you never know for sure," he said.
"We heard some comments that people thought they were voting no to striking versus no to the agreement. That's what muddied the issue."
Retroactive for the last year, the newly ratified contract will expire March 31, 2003.
Ng hoped the ratification would end the hostility that has echoed across the three regions. The impasse in contract talks led to a "strategic" rotating strike and a work-to-rule campaign.
Workman said he accepted the union membership's decision and planned to carry on in his role of representing the public service and ensuring the collective agreement is implemented by the government.
"The members made a decision and let me know which way they wanted to go," said Workman.
He said he also planned to monitor employment levels over the next two years to see if the agreement managed to recruit and retain workers.
A positive product of the labour dispute, Workman said, was the heightened level of union participation by the workers.
He didn't reveal the actual vote outcome.
Settlement:
- Three year contact expires March 31, 2003.
- Salaries will increase by 9%:
- 3.5% retroactive to April 1, 2000
- 2.75%, April 1, 2001; and,
- 2.75% on April 1, 2002
- A new travel assistance program is included in the Northern allowance, that "takes into consideration the cost of air travel from each community to its nearest designated southern city." It's equal to the cost of four trips to that city for each employee.
- Workers can take their Nunavut Northern Allowance in annual lump-sum payments.
- A new formula will result in Northern Allowance increases from 15% to 59%.
- There will be a 25% increase in the language allowance for workers who speak Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun.
- Employees will get full relocation expenses after working for the government six years instead of eight.
- Other items include an optional leave program and enhanced dental benefits.
