QAUSUITTUQ/RESOLUTE - Scheduled negotiations that headed off a strike in Resolute last week have been postponed. The union's negotiator didn't make it out of Yellowknife after weather grounded the plane, said Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees' Union.

The union's negotiator didn't make it out of Yellowknife after weather grounded the plane, said Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees' Union. - NNSL file photo

The meeting, set to run Oct. 25-28 will now be Nov. 1-5, he said.

The NEU is representing about 25 full-time, part-time and casual hamlet workers in Resolute who joined the union last fall and are negotiating to get a collective agreement.

Beginning in February, negotiations reached an impasse in June and on Oct. 15 the hamlet workers voted to take strike action.

This was forestalled when the hamlet agreed to the negotiations in October. Both sides of the negotiating table were pragmatic about the postponement.

"It's going to be nice when it's all over and done with," said Resolute SAO and negotiator Duncan Walker, of the week delay.

"I have a feeling (the employees) are probably a little anxious wondering what's going to happen, looking forward to an agreement being in place."

"Of course we're disappointed but at the same time, that's one of the challenges we have in Nunavut," said Workman, of the delay due to weather. "It's one of those things we all have to cope with."

The major issues on the negotiating table are wage and benefit increases. The employees work in various capacities in the hamlet, including postal service and garbage collection.