Negotiations for a new Collective Agreement for Nunavut Employees Union/Public Service Alliance of Canada (NEU/PSAC) members who work at the Government of Nunavut (GN) are now in full swing after both parties tabled their full packages of non-economic proposals.
The Union bargaining team met with the Employer in October and again the week of January 13, 2025, for face-to-face negotiations. Further bargaining dates have been scheduled for February, March and May.
Your Bargaining Team was elected at the GN Bargaining Conference which took place last June. After the conference, the PSAC appointed Eunice Kripanik-Panigayak to the team, ensuring an equal number of Inuit and non-Inuit members and an equal number of male and female members.
During the three-day conference, delegates also participated in a prioritization exercise to guide the Union bargaining team in identifying key issues of concern for members. While there are many proposals specific to certain work groups, among the overarching issues are:
- Reaffirming the commitment of the parties to respect and to work together in accordance with traditional Inuit societal values – Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit;
- Amending the provisions of the Inuktut Language Policy to ensure that Inuktut speakers are properly compensated so that the policy actually does what it was intended to do – encourage the use of Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun;
- Ensure that all employees have equal access to full-time indeterminate work by a) resolving the over-use of Casual work which has many employees classified as Casual for years; b) limiting the Contracting Out of Bargaining Unit work and Contracting-In work that has already been handed over to contractors and agencies; and c) ensuring the equitable allocation of overtime to Bargaining Unit members.
Your Bargaining Team is dedicated to bringing back to all members a new Collective Agreement that resolves problems and improves wages and working conditions. Please stay tuned for further developments!
YOUR BARGAINING TEAM
Jason Rochon, NEU President
Amanda Arsenault
Tristan Howell
Eunice Kripanik-Panigayak
Alex McConnachie
Paul Puqiqnak
Marianne Uqayuittuq
Daniel Kinsella, NEU Executive Director
Saïd Apali, PSAC Research Officer
Gail Lem, PSAC Negotiator