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Nunavut Workers Fight for Respect and Improved Living Standards Under the Most Difficult Conditions
The NEU is a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the largest union of federal employees. Some of these workers' main demands are significant wage increases, improved benefits, an increase in the Nunavut Northern Allowance (NNA), support for mental health and paid leave for victims of domestic violence. The NNA is a benefit paid to government employees designed to make up for the difference in the cost of living between Nunavut and designated southern centres and to equalize the compensation of employees across Nunavut who face different economic conditions. There has been no increase in the NNA for 12 years, the union notes. Nunavut public sector workers have been on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic. They have worked throughout COVID-19 outbreaks without a raise during that time. "It's causing a lot of mental health issues, and stress and anxiety on families and people who are working really hard and making hard decisions like whether they'll pay the bills or put food on the table," NEU President Jason Rochon told the press. One of the main problems facing the Nunavut workers is that close to 90 per cent of the territorial government's budget comes from federal transfers, with the remainder coming from individual and corporate taxation. Nunavut has a population of around 35,000 people, approximately 85 per cent of whom are Inuit, and the revenues from taxation are very limited. This plus the federal transfers are inadequate to meet the needs of the people. The cost of living in Nunavut is one of the highest in the country. Nunavut is the largest and northernmost territory of Canada and the fifth largest administrative division in the world. The people of Nunavut live in 25 communities spread across this vast territory, with the largest number, close to 8,000, residing in the capital Iqaluit. Traveling from one community to another is mainly by air, and most food and other supplies arrive by plane or by boat during the summer. The housing crisis in Nunavut is acute. Residents pay the highest rents in the country. According to a report published by PSAC North in 2017, close to 50 per cent of the population live in inadequate housing, and 57 per cent live in public housing, compared to six per cent in the rest of Canada. PSAC identifies the housing crisis as a major contributing factor to high rates of poverty, food insecurity and suicide. Difficult Negotiation
The GN workers are demanding that the territorial government stand
with them in improving their living standards. So far, their demand has
not been met with success. There are no negotiations at present. Water Crisis in Iqaluit
A state of emergency was declared in Iqaluit in
the second week of October when a high concentration of fuel was found
contaminating the tank that supplies water to the city. Since then, the
state of emergency has been extended to the end of November. The NEU
represents most City of Iqaluit
employees (their collective agreement is separate from that of the GN
and was recently renewed) who are working tirelessly to resolve the
situation through investigation, testing, repairs, and the distribution
of water.
This is not the first time Iqaluit has had to deal with contaminated water. This crisis, the people of Nunavut are saying, in addition to three water crises over the past four years, reveal a chronic problem. Northern communities are affected by aging and poor infrastructure causing water emergencies, and they continue to struggle with water quality and supply issues. "This crisis is the result of decades of broken promises and ongoing inequalities that Inuit and Indigenous communities face," said Lorraine Rousseau, PSAC North Regional Executive Vice-President, in a press release. "Why haven't governments learned from past mistakes and taken the necessary steps to protect our water supplies and the safety of our communities?" she asks. In a conversation with Workers' Forum, NEU President Jason Rochon said: "We are trying to get the government back to the table. We have members who have been without a contract for three years and we know that the cost of living has gone up so much. This is causing so much stress, especially with COVID-19. We have people who have to pay insane amounts for water, which is a basic human right. Workers must be compensated fairly. They have to be treated with respect. We cannot accept having children going to school hungry. The food insecurity is very high here. And there have not been increases in the Nunavut Northern Allowance for 12 years. Politicians know that and employers know that. They have to step up to the plate and treat workers with respect." He added that workers do not want to go on strike but a strike vote will be held if there is no progress in getting an offer workers deem acceptable.
This article was published in Article Link:   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
Four
thousand public sector workers employed by the Government of Nunavut
(GN), whose collective agreement expired at the end of September
2018, are
fighting for their rights and dignity and for improved living standards
for all, under the most difficult conditions. These workers are members
of the close to 5,000-strong Nunavut Employees Union (NEU). Members
include custodians, social workers, payroll officers
and nurses. 
Under
the state of emergency, people are not allowed to drink
tap water or use it for cooking, even if it is boiled; residents have
had to pay exorbitant prices for bottled water. Many patients
had to travel outside the territory for treatment for several weeks
because hospital staff are not able to wash their hands
or sterilize instruments. This situation is taking a
heavy toll on the community's physical and mental health. 