Updates

(From the July 19/17 issue of Yellowknifer)

  By Jack Bourassa (As appeared in the Nov. 29, 2017 issue of 'Yellowknifer')  We were slightly amused in recent weeks to see Premier Bob McLeod issue a 'red alert' to our federal government. I certainly do feel there is a lot to be 'alerted' about as it comes to the lack of commitment by the feds to Northern living and how services are delivered to our citizens.

Across the country there is an increasingly accepted view that raising the minimum wage is both socially responsible and of net benefit to the economy. Within the last year, the public discourse around this subject has shifted dramatically after progressive leadership in several provinces have either announced a $15/hr wage floor before 2020; or put plans in place to work toward that figure before 2020.

Unionized workers at Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) ratified the new tentative agreement with their employer August 17, 2017. The new collective agreement includes modest economic gains and increases to Special Leave provisions. The voting took place both in-person and by mail-in ballots to ensure members in communities all across the territory had the opportunity to cast their ballot.

Political Action and Mobilization

The registration period to apply as a Delegate, Alternate or Observer to the 2017 PSAC North Regional Triennial Convention has been extended until January 15, 2017. The extension allows for all PSAC North members from across the three territories to have equal opportunity to share their voice on the Convention floor.

By Jack Bourassa, Regional Executive Vice President for the North (as published in the Yellowknifer, November 23, 2016) Trumpocalypse, #RIPUSA, and many other striking hashtags were trending on social media on November 8th 2016. Bewilderment rippled worldwide. Aside from the myriad of socio-economic issues that led to Trump’s election, one evident cause stood out.

Delegates from the QEC Bargaining Unit participated in an important Bargaining Conference in Iqaluit in early November to prepare for negotiations for a new collective agreement.