After five sessions of bargaining, the UNW and the GNWT find themselves far apart on a new Collective Agreement and the parties have decided to move to the next step, which is mediation.
The parties have agreed to Jacquie De Aguayo as mediator. Before opening her own mediation and arbitration service in Vancouver, Ms. De Aguayo served as Chair of the BC Labour Relations Board.
The parties have had private, preliminary meetings with the mediator, and your Bargaining Team is planning to meet in Yellowknife in early January to discuss next steps.
We will keep you posted as we continue to work toward a fair Collective Agreement that recognizes the commitment, dedication and hard work of all GNWT employees.
On behalf of your Bargaining Team, we wish you a happy and peaceful Holiday Season. We will be in touch with you early in the New Year with further developments.
In solidarity,
YOUR BARGAINING TEAM
Lauraine Armstrong
Cee Bradbury
B. G. (Brad) Brake
Melvin Larocque
Adam Thom
Randy Thompson
Gayla Thunstrom, UNW President
Gail Lem, PSAC Negotiator
Djimy Théodore, PSAC Research Officer
Caitlin Lacey, UNW Political Assistant to the President
Anne Marie Thistle, UNW Director, Member Services