The Hamlet of Kinngait says its latest proposal to the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) for a collective agreement is a good one that values its employees given current circumstances and resources.

SA国际影视传媒淭he pay and allowance increases that the hamlet offered in this collective agreement are higher than the increases in the last collective agreement. This will result in more money in the pockets of employees,SA国际影视传媒� stated Kinngait Mayor Timoon Toonoo in a Nov. 29 news release.

Current outstanding issues for the NEU include having different wording for discretionary leave, particularly with regards to harvesting; the removal of rights to about one-third of the collective agreement articles for employees accepting positions directly funded by the Government of Nunavut; and to have planned wage increases match levels of ongoing inflation.

There are currently fewer than 25 employees working for the hamlet with almost half of the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 positions vacant.

The hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 current offer in each year of a five-year collective agreement would include pay increases of one, one, 1.5, two and 2.5 per cent for each year respectively, more than prior proposals, according to the municipality. The NEUSA国际影视传媒檚 position is that it should take into account current inflation rates. Inflation rates in Iqaluit are around five per cent and itSA国际影视传媒檚 expected to be higher in communities such as Kinngait.

While there has been an agreement for 10 per cent market adjustment in certain male-dominated classiciations, the NEU is continuing to argue for wage increases. Two times over the last six years the hamlet has had to adjust wages due to the municipality paying less than the Nunavut minimum wage.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Municipality of Kinngait is one of the lowest-paid hamlets in all of Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� wrote James Kaylor, communications officer with the NEU in a statement to Nunavut News.

The NEU is also seeking a market adjustment for female-dominated jobs, such as those in offices.

SA国际影视传媒淭he office workers are already saying they cannot afford to buy their normal groceries anymore,SA国际影视传媒� Kaylor added. SA国际影视传媒淜inngait is on the bottom rung, paying among the lowest wages of any community in Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒�

The hamlet is proposing to make discretionary leave dependent on operational requirements, such as ensuring that water delivery is covered.

SA国际影视传媒淭he hamlet is not proposing to take this away from employees,SA国际影视传媒� said Toonoo. SA国际影视传媒淭he hamlet is only proposing that, in situations where the hamlet needs a particularly employee to work, then that employee must stay at work, instead of taking the leave SA国际影视传媒� but as soon as the hamlet doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 need the employee at work anymore, the employee could then take the leave.SA国际影视传媒�

The NEUSA国际影视传媒檚 position is that for Nunavut workers, having access to country food makes the difference between having to go hungry or not. The proposed change to discretionary leave could change that.

SA国际影视传媒淲orkers in Kinngait have been using the current discretionary leave language in the collective agreement to go hunting to feed themselves, their families and the community for many years,SA国际影视传媒� said NEU president Jason Rochon on negotiations with the hamlet in early November. SA国际影视传媒淚t seems like current management wants to re-colonize the community instead of accepting the needs of its people and their traditional culture. They should be ashamed.SA国际影视传媒�

However, Toonoo contends that SA国际影视传媒渢his is a misunderstanding of Inuit culture. Having employees do important work for our community is not a colonial attitude.SA国际影视传媒�

But the NEU says it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been made aware of any complaints at the bargaining table of employees taking advantage of harvesting opportunities instead of delivering water.

Northern allowance

The hamlet is also proposing to replace the existing settlement, housing and vacation allowance with a Northern allowance offering about $5,000 more for employees overall compared to the other allowances.

While the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 Northern allowance canSA国际影视传媒檛 compete with the GN Northern allowance, it presents a SA国际影视传媒渂ig increase for employees,SA国际影视传媒� according to Toonoo. SA国际影视传媒淢ore more than employees received the last time we bargained the collective agreement.SA国际影视传媒�

The municipality is looking to have a responsible budget, according to ToonooSA国际影视传媒檚 statement, and is aiming to SA国际影视传媒渘ot make decisions that would lead it back into a deficit.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he hamlet is willing to come back to the bargaining table,SA国际影视传媒� he added.

However, SA国际影视传媒渋f the union continues to insist on greater wage increases or other financial benefits, then there is a good risk of a strike or lockout.SA国际影视传媒�

It appears there will continue to be an impasse between the hamlet and the union on the financial end of the negotiations, with the NEU maintaining that the hamletSA国际影视传媒檚 current offer is not enough.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the current economic climate, a raise of a few cents per hour is not sufficient for employees of the hamlet to keep food in the table,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Kaylor. SA国际影视传媒淓veryone knows how much prices have risen, and this is especially true in the small communities across Nunavut.SA国际影视传媒�

The last collective agreement expired on March 31, 2020. Negotiations on a replacement began this past June.