Sheila Bassi-Kellett, city manager, spoke with Yellowknifer on Wednesday afternoon regarding the citySA国际影视传媒檚 negotiations with the Union of Northern WorkersSA国际影视传媒� bargaining team. The interview has been edited for clarity.

What are the general feelings of the city now that the strike has begun?

SA国际影视传媒淲ell, itSA国际影视传媒檚 been a tough few days leading up to strike action that was implemented first thing this morning (Feb. 8) by the union.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very disappointed that things have gotten to this point, but nonetheless, I really believe that we are still able to find a path forward.

SA国际影视传媒淎t the end of the day, the city is seeking a fair, respectful and affordable collective agreement.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were dismayed when the union walked away on Tuesday morning, they walked away not just from us, (but) we had a mediator who was helping the process, they walked away from the process overall.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were looking forward to being able to respond to the offer that they had put on the table Monday night.

SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to respond back on Tuesday but they walked before we had the opportunity to do so.SA国际影视传媒�

Bassi-Kellett mentioned that creative options were going to be part of their offer to the union, but declined to tell Yellowknifer what those options were.

WeSA国际影视传媒檙e hearing from the union that negotiations and mediation with the City has failed. What is your perspective on that?

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel sad, as I said, that the union walked away on Tuesday morning from the process (when) it was a matter of them waiting for us to be able to provide them with a counter offer.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were getting prepared to do that but they walked away before we could. We really do look forward to coming back. We hope that perhaps with the support of the mediator, we could come back to the table and have some discussions and really hope to seek to reach an agreement.SA国际影视传媒�

Have you heard if the union has any intentions to return to the bargaining table at this point?

SA国际影视传媒淚 certainly hope they do. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 our wish and our interest to share with them an offer that weSA国际影视传媒檇 like to put on the table.SA国际影视传媒�

Did the City at any point decline negotiations?

SA国际影视传媒淣o, and as a matter of fact, our team stayed at the bargaining table all day on Tuesday.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had reached out through the mediator and we hoped that we would see (them) return to the table but no, that did not happen.SA国际影视传媒�

How do you think a long strike can be prevented?

SA国际影视传媒淏y us getting back to the table. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e ready. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e willing, and we certainly hope that the union is.

SA国际影视传媒淭he only way through this is for us to discuss and to negotiate fairly, and with every intention of both sides of us seeking to reach an agreement.SA国际影视传媒�

How does the cost of running the city play a role in what its staff can be paid?

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to balance fair and attractive pay and benefits for our staff, who are such a strong asset to the city, with the cost of delivering services to Yellowknifers.

SA国际影视传媒淓very morning Yellowknifers wake up in the morning and take for granted that there will be water when they turn on their taps. When they flush, itSA国际影视传媒檚 gotta go away. We know that our residents rely on that, but being able to do that comes with an enormous cost.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to maintain and replace pipes. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e got to make sure that our water is treated meet standards. We have a massive new water intake line thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to bring raw water from the Yellowknife River. We have to ensure that our solid waste facility and our sewage treatment all comply with the terms of our water license. These are expensive things to do.

SA国际影视传媒淲e always have to balance how can we spend money on the assets that we need for infrastructure, the pipes, the roads, (while) making sure that our staff are well compensated.

SA国际影视传媒淭he challenge for us is that every year when the city puts our budget together, we are required through legislation that we have to have a balanced budget every year. That means that expenditures have to equal our revenues.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not like the GNWT or the federal government, they can run a deficit budget.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny additional costs, if they pop up or find a new expense or more compensation for staff, they can add that to the deficit. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to level it out right away as we do.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we canSA国际影视传媒檛 get more revenue, then we got to make cuts to programs.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e know right now (that) inflation is a really pressing issue for everybody.SA国际影视传媒�

Why not tie the negotiated increase to the cost of living?

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e actually done the analysis on this. We looked back and compared what the negotiated increases look like and how they increased over time. We looked at that and compared it to the rate of inflation, and honestly, if our staff had been getting increases that were at the rate of inflation, they would be a lot poorer than they are right now.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淥ver the last 20 years, the cost of living increased by 37 per cent but our negotiated increases with our PSAC staff increased by 57 per cent.

SA国际影视传媒淭he rate of inflation is projected to come down by the end of this year and weSA国际影视传媒檙e really hoping that (it) can be a realistic thing that we can plan for.SA国际影视传媒�