The three city councillors at the centre of a letter sent by the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) North on Tuesday have responded.
Councillors Ben Hendriksen, Steve Payne and Rob Warburton SA国际影视传媒� all union members SA国际影视传媒� were the recipients of a communique signed by UNW president Gayla Thunstrom and PSAC North executive vice-president Lorraine Rousseau. It outlined whatSA国际影视传媒檚 expected of the trio of councillors if picket lines are erected.
The letter communicated that under both organizationsSA国际影视传媒� bylaws and constitutions, it is an offence for a member to SA国际影视传媒渆ngage in any conduct prejudicial to the good order and welfare of the union.SA国际影视传媒�
The correspondence outlines UNW bylaw 16 relating to discipline, which refers to disciplinary measures for members who SA国际影视传媒減articipate in contract negotiations representing management across the table from the union.SA国际影视传媒�
The letter also states that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a basic union tenet to SA国际影视传媒渞espect all picket lines.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚n addition to this, UNW members are governed by the PSAC constitution and regulations and UNW bylaws and regulations.SA国际影视传媒�
The correspondence ends with Thunstrom and Rousseau stating that they hope all three councillors will support their fellow union members SA国际影视传媒渁s they would support you.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲e urge you to show respect for these fellow union members and do not cross picket lines, and in fact show your support however you are able,SA国际影视传媒� the letter states.
Hendriksen wrote a response late Tuesday afternoon on behalf of the trio, saying that they were still hopeful that negotiations could avoid a work stoppage. A general strike is set to begin Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.
HendriksenSA国际影视传媒檚 letter pointed out that while all three are members of the UNW through their employment and respect the right to work action, they were elected to serve all Yellowknifers.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are not UNW members employed by the city and with that, we must balance these responsibilities,SA国际影视传媒� the letter reads. SA国际影视传媒淲e know the UNW may not see things this way, but it is unfortunate that they have decided to publicly pit their own members against one another. We as councillors are all confident in our ability to perform our elected roles objectively despite the perceptions of others.SA国际影视传媒�
The letter also indicated that it was SA国际影视传媒渄isheartening as UNW membersSA国际影视传媒� that Thunstrom and Rousseau decided to publicly post what the three councillors felt was a SA国际影视传媒渓etter of intimidationSA国际影视传媒� without trying to speak with them beforehand.
SA国际影视传媒淚n our role as councillors, we have a fiduciary responsibility to the city and would be unable to uphold that responsibility while abiding by all the demands the union has laid out in their communication,SA国际影视传媒� stated the letter. SA国际影视传媒淎s publicly elected representatives of the city, it would be a breach of our elected duties to follow in that action. For ourselves, we have an elected duty to Yellowknifers that we intend to fulfill.SA国际影视传媒�
