Hay River (Nov 27/06) - The president of the Nats'ejee K'eh employees' union has called for the resignation of the treatment centre's board, unless they come back to the bargaining table "in good faith."

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers was in Hay River Nov. 24 to make a statement urging the government of the NWT to pressure the employer into returning to negotiations.

The treatment centre is funded by the GNWT. "Ultimately it's a service provided to the NWT and Nunavut with taxpayers' money," said Parsons. "Any lack of action on the part of the GNWT could be seen as supporting the employer," he said.

Parsons also announced that money was coming in from union locals to support the treatment centre's employees as Christmas draws near.

Every employee will receive a Christmas hamper complete with a turkey, said Parsons. One employee said he had mixed feelings about it. "It's really good on one hand," said David Poitras, a cultural helper at the centre. "But I'm going to be 63 next week and it's the first Christmas I've ever had to accept charity in my life. It really hurts."

The employees have been away from work for over a month, due to a labour dispute over a collective agreement that expired in 2003.