Talks between the territorial government and the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) broke down over the weekend but SA国际影视传媒渁 strike will only be a last resort,SA国际影视传媒� says union president Todd Parsons.

Union local presidents representing government workers are SA国际影视传媒渃alling for an immediate general strikeSA国际影视传媒� but the bargaining team is SA国际影视传媒渃ommittedSA国际影视传媒� to seek a collective agreement that wonSA国际影视传媒檛 result in job action, said Parsons.

The union sent GNWT workers an email Monday stating it's not its SA国际影视传媒渋ntention to strike before Christmas, however, we are in a legal position to begin strike action if we are provoked.SA国际影视传媒�

After the union shared a public communique Saturday announcing mediator-facilitated talks had failed, the GNWT issued its own public update and said it was SA国际影视传媒渄isappointedSA国际影视传媒� with accusations that it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 provide a living wage and that employees are subsidizing infrastructure projects.

It made the unusual move to share specific details from the bargaining table, including its proposal for two years without pay increases followed by increases in the next three years and boosts to the northern allowance.

Approximately 4,000 public sector employees have been without an agreement for three years. Prior to mediation, the union pushed for wage increases and increased job security for its members.

The union is concerned that more than 25 per cent of the current GNWT workforce is SA国际影视传媒減recariousSA国际影视传媒� and comprised of casual, term and relief positions.

The union is pursuing full-time, indeterminate work for as many union members as possible.

Parsons is SA国际影视传媒渘ot aware of any other jurisdictionSA国际影视传媒� that uses relief employees to the extent the GNWT does, he said.

More than eight years ago, the GNWT entered an agreement to institute SA国际影视传媒渞eliefSA国际影视传媒� employees, intended to cover short term leave of less than 21 days for full-time employees.

Since then, the GNWT has expanded the amount of relief employees in its workforce, according to the union.

In the Department of Justice's corrections division, there as many relief employees as there are full-time workers, Parson said.

Talks closed as of Friday evening, after mediator Vince Ready determined the parties positions were still too far apart.

Todd Sasaki, a senior communications officer with the Department of Human Resources for the GNWT, declined to comment and instead directed Yellowknifer to its Monday statement.

Ready has up to 14 days to deliver a report but the Public Service Act is not clear on whether both parties are bound to its recommendations, said Parsons.

The union has initiated strike training as a SA国际影视传媒渘ormal course of preparation,SA国际影视传媒� and is scheduling training in other places, said Parsons.

Should workers strike, there is an essential services agreement in place.

It SA国际影视传媒渨ill not be business as usual,SA国际影视传媒� said Parsons. Employees kept on for essential work may work reduced hours and businesses will feel the pinch of austerity as striking workers reduce their spending.

In 2015, the Town of Hay River was the scene of a six-month strike that caused divisions, vandalism and accusations of SA国际影视传媒渟cab labourSA国际影视传媒� with the hiring of temporary workers.

Asked how such troubles could be avoided, Parsons acknowledged that strikes are SA国际影视传媒渧ery divisiveSA国际影视传媒� for the public and even the UNW membership.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think people will take sides if there is a labour dispute. I think that businesses in the NWT heavily rely on public service employees to use their services and that it will directly impact them,SA国际影视传媒� said Parsons.

The union recognizes that some businesses and the public wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be supportive of the union as it seeks out a SA国际影视传媒渇air dealSA国际影视传媒� for its members, said Parsons.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has a lot of negative effects of the community and business and the emotional, financial toll it takes on our members is very great,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

It is also in talks with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, all of which could be in a legal strike position by the new year.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am sure the other employers are watching closely, what is happening with the big group of employees in the GNWT,SA国际影视传媒� said Parsons.

Local 11 president Frank Walsh is a nurse and represents employees at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think anyone at all or within a union is happy with how long this has taken. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e pushing into our third completed year without an agreement,SA国际影视传媒� he told Yellowknifer.

People are unhappy with cost of living in the North, and SA国际影视传媒渕ost people think the only way to battle the cost of living is an increase in salary,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Walsh expressed solidarity with workers in smaller centres, who are more likely to be administrative workers than health professionals, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are a lot of Yellowknifers that are in higher echelons of pay grids. In the health centres there is a larger proportion of administrative help. A lot of the communities have a bigger stake in this,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭he stakes are so much higher and the employer hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 come out and said weSA国际影视传媒檒l give the communities SA国际影视传媒� a better wage package. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e all in this together and weSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping to achieve the same goals,SA国际影视传媒� he said.