In the North, we know about the value of community, and nothing underscores that more than when workers achieve hard-fought victories.
When the labour movement fights for fair wages, better working conditions and respect in the workplace, these wins are not just for union members SA国际影视传媒� they ripple out to strengthen our entire region, touching the lives of families and workers alike.
Over the past few months, weSA国际影视传媒檝e seen whatSA国际影视传媒檚 possible across the North when we stand together for inclusive workplaces. The Queer Yukon Society made history earlier this year by securing its first collective agreement, one that represents the values we hold dear in the North: fairness, respect and support for everyone. A smaller organization but one with a tremendous impact, welcoming its members into the family of labour may seem like a small win, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 part of our ongoing work create a foundation for lasting change. It serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when workers stand together and demand fairness.
Last year, we saw housing authority workers in Iqaluit strike for 137 days, well into winter, to reach a deal that met the membersSA国际影视传媒� needs. Now this year, workers for the Hamlet of Arctic Bay fought for and won significant improvements to their working conditions at the bargaining table. These include the end of a mandatory $10 coffee deduction from each employeeSA国际影视传媒檚 pay cheque, whether they drink coffee or not!
Gains like this one may seem small, but they are part of the bigger picture showing the real power of union solidarity. Workers celebrated not only because they no longer had to pay for coffee they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 drink, but because it was a tangible reminder that standing together can bring change, even in the smallest ways.
The same can be said for the freshly-ratified agreement for City of Yellowknife workers. After being on the picket lines during their last round of bargaining only a year earlier, these members negotiated significant gains that will improve not just their own lives, but also the quality of public services in Yellowknife. Our members in the NWT capital understand the power of solidarity. Many were on the picket lines last year, and that collective action was a catalyst for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 fair deal. This agreement also reflects our commitment to making sure public services remain strong and accessible for all Northerners. When workers have the support they need, they can better serve their communities.
At Home Base YK, an organization that supports youth in Yellowknife, our ongoing organizing efforts are about more than just adding members to our union. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e about growing the movement, ensuring that those who work with our most vulnerable youth are treated fairly, and helping build a brighter future for the entire community. When we lift up workers, we lift up the people they serve.
No workplace is too small or too unique to benefit from collective action. As people in Yellowknife, and indeed across our region, stand in solidarity with the seven workers at the Fort Simpson Housing Authority who have been on strike since early October, weSA国际影视传媒檙e reminded that the fight for fair wages is also a fight for the long-term future of housing and services in the North. The chronic underfunding of housing impacts everyone in our community, but by standing together, we are pushing for real change that will make a lasting difference for families who rely on these essential services. Like the Yellowknife strike last year, the stand these workers take today will shape the gains of tomorrow.
These victories and ongoing efforts highlight one simple truth: when workers win, everyone wins. Families are more stable, services are more reliable and our communities become places where everyone can thrive. Whether it's through improved housing services, more inclusive workplaces or simply the knowledge that the next generation of workers is better protected, these agreements represent a stronger, more united North. Workers and families should look forward to the gains that Fort Simpson Housing Authority employees will achieve for housing workers and their communities across the North.
