Tentative end to strike
'Not a great deal,' says Nunavut Employees Union boss about possible agreement with territorial government
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, August 17, 2015
NUNAVUT
The Government of Nunavut and Qulliq Energy Corporation's unionized workers have come to a tentative agreement, but the boss at the Nunavut Employees Union isn't too excited about it.
Moe Guimond leads striking Qulliq Energy Corporation workers on a walk through Iqaluit during time on the picket line. The government and the union have reached a tentative agreement. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
"It's not a great deal, but it's probably the best deal possible at this time with the government," said union president Bill Fennell.
"In the end, it was that they wanted a fair deal and they wanted a cost of living increase, which on the government website is 1.9 per cent, which is what we've been saying all along."
The strike, which lasted nearly a month, is set to come to a close if both sides ratify the deal. The union voted Aug. 13 and the government will vote Aug. 20.
"The workers on the line were becoming frustrated, but they certainly were well-behaved and respectful," said Fennell, adding that some held picket signs up but didn't stop people from coming and going.
The three days of negotiations preceding the tentative deal weren't bubbling with bad blood, said Fennell.
QEC President Peter Tumilty agreed.
"I think that expectations were high on both sides, but the tension was normal for negotiations," he said. "Everyone was hoping to be able to come to an agreement and get back to work and that is what we did."
Tumilty said QEC has always maintained that its offer was fair and reasonable.
"We are relieved that the current labour dispute is nearly over and are looking forward to getting back to the work of the corporation, which is to provide safe and reliable energy to our customers," he said.
Some of the union members held community events, such as a barbecue in Iqaluit and building tent frames for elders in Cambridge Bay, in lieu of only walking the picket line.
"It was never really a strategy," said Fennell.
"Members came up with those things on their own. It wasn't so much a strategy as they wanted to give back. They're part of the community. They're not just there to work."
Details of the tentative deal were not available by press time.
