After years of failed negotiations with the GNWT, the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) SA国际影视传媒� representing almost 4,000 GNWT workers SA国际影视传媒� revealed this week 70 per cent of them are in favour of a strike.

In a response to the strike vote news on Tuesday, the GNWT issued a statement outlining its concerns over the union's position.

SA国际影视传媒淲e continue to be concerned with the UNWSA国际影视传媒檚 misleading summary of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 current fiscal situation,SA国际影视传媒� stated Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod in a news release Wednesday.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur challenge remains balancing all of our competing priorities during an unprecedented period of stagnant revenues while being fiscally responsible,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淎s we continue bargaining to ensure we are providing competitive compensation and benefits to our employees, McLeod said.

The GNWT is SA国际影视传媒減leasedSA国际影视传媒� they will return to the bargaining table, likely with a mediator, stated the release.

Voting members rejected the employer's offer of a zero per cent wage increase for the first two years, a one per cent increase in the third year and a 1.1 per cent increase in the fourth year.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am very pleased with the outcome of this vote,SA国际影视传媒� said Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW). SA国际影视传媒淥ur members have articulated that they are not interested in the current offer.SA国际影视传媒�

The union will exhaust all of its options under the Public Service Act to come to an agreement and avoid a work stoppage, said Parson.

The union is pushing for a three per cent yearly wage increase for the period of 2016 to 2018, Northern allowance improvements, reduced casual and precarious employment, full-time indeterminate work and mental health supports for public service employees.

The employer, the GNWT, SA国际影视传媒渞emains committed to reaching a collective agreement that meets the interests of all parties, and is pleased to also understand that the UNW intends to return to the bargaining table, perhaps with the assistance of a mediator,SA国际影视传媒� it said in a news release Wednesday.

The union is using the strike as a bargaining tool, as it works to negotiate yearly salary increases that pace with increasing costs of living.

The last GNWT proposal for collective bargaining with the union states that the employer has not moved its position SA国际影视传媒渄ue to significant and ongoing fiscal challenges facing the NWT.SA国际影视传媒�

In the 2015 fiscal year, the GNWT expended $401 million on UNW employeesSA国际影视传媒� compensation and benefits.

The estimated cost of the UNW's monetary proposals as of Sept. 27, 2017 would cost the GNWT $14.2-million dollars for the 2016 and 2017 fiscal year.

The GNWT is working to finalize a collective agreement to avert job action, but is preparing for the possibility of a strike if negotiations sour and both parties have exhausted all legal avenues.

The GNWT is balancing worker compensation and benefits with its many priorities, including education, health care, programs for seniors and vulnerable residents, training and economic opportunities, the environment and infrastructure, the news release states.

This is the first strike mandate achieved in the 50 years existence of the union bargaining unit.