PSAC North in the News

A new year begins and with it a new hope that the working lives of Northerners continue to improve. As I have mentioned in a previous column, PSAC North is today announcing that we are starting a new campaign to increase the legal minimum wage. In partnership with other labour organizations across the North, we are calling on all three governments to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2019.

Our Family Fun Day in support of affordable, high quality child care in Canada this Saturday in Yellowknife was a huge success! We welcomed more than 200 children and their families for a day of fun activities and a great learning experience for parents about what universal child care could look like in Canada.

Stephanie Waddell Whitehorse Daily Star The more than 20 unionized staff members with the Town of Watson Lake are off the picket line and back on the job this morning after the town and union reached a tentative agreement Monday. The two sides still have to vote to ratify the agreement, which was expected to happen later today.

The Town of Watson Lake and the members of YEU/PSAC Local Y029 have achieved a tentative deal, ending a week of job action. The employer locked out the 22 unionized employees on Monday March 27th, triggering a strike as the lockout concluded.

Submitted by Dianne Williams - Chair, PSAC Yukon Health & Safety Committee

By Todd Parsons Editorial note: PSAC members are currently in bargaining with Dominion Diamond Corp. with bargaining dates set for mid-January. What does it mean to be committed to the North and more importantly the development of Northern society?

Innuktitut translation follows. City of Iqaluit workers deserve better The City of Iqaluit bargaining team met with the Employer’s team to negotiate a new collective agreement on January 15-20, 2016. We have exchanged proposals and from the beginning the Employer signalled to us that we, the members, were going to have to share some responsibilities.

By Jack Bourassa, REVP North As published in the Yellowknifer, June 24 Canadians from every walk of life came together to commemorate National Aboriginal Day this week, an important celebration that embraces the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the country.

Hay River councillors need to take a lesson in fair bargaining from recent settlements of labour negotiations in Yellowknife and Fort Smith, say the leaders of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). In Yellowknife, conciliation talks and fair-minded bargaining averted a strike of workers at Avens—A Community for Seniors. While strike action was necessary in Fort Smith, respectful negotiations with an employer willing to end the dispute resulted in a fair settlement for workers at the Fort Smith Housing Authority.

Town of Hay River members had no choice but to walk away from negotiations Wednesday because there was no fair or reasonable offer on the table.Hours later, the Town issued an open letter to members inviting them to cross their own picket line and return to work for less than they were being offered at the bargaining table – and with the promise that union dues would be taken off their salaries.Members sent a fiery response back to mayor, burning the Town’s letter outside the Fire Hall.