Action, not statements, needed to support social workers: NEU president
Jason Rochon responds to condemnation of violence, harassment against front-line workers from family services minister
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk, left, is calling on Nunavummiut to treat community social workers with kindness amid what she describes as harassment and violence. But Nunavut Employees Union president Jason Rochon, right, said the GN has a role to play in making sure front-line workers feel safe and supported. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk is condemning what she describes as violence and harassment toward community social workers who provide mental health, child protection and other support services across Nunavut.
But Jason Rochon, president of Nunavut Employees Union, said it’s on the GN to make sure those employees are safe and supported.
Nakashuk made her remarks in a May 22 minister’s statement in the legislature.
“Our community social services workers, who dedicate their lives to supporting and uplifting the most vulnerable people among us, have been subjected to unacceptable levels of violence, harassment, and negativity on the frontlines,” Nakashuk said.
“This is a direct attack on these dedicated professionals and on the values we hold dear as Nunavummiut.”
Nakashuk said “we must ensure” those working in front-line environments can do their jobs in a safe and respectful environment.
The minister didn’t specify why these condemnations are coming now. Earlier this month, a woman who identified herself as a former caregiver at Kinngait’s wellness office posted several allegations on Facebook about the quality of care at the office, poor management, and lack of payment for workers.
The department has also been under scrutiny from the federal auditor general since 2011, where it has faced three damning audits and a followup in March saying still more work needs to be done to make sure kids in the territorial government’s care are protected.
Nakashuk announced last week her department has set up a confidential line where people can report concerns about Family Services.
Rochon responded to Nakashuk’s ministerial statement in an interview Monday, saying that rather than blame those in the community, leaders can take a closer look at why abuse against workers is happening.
“We appreciate that Minister Nakashuk said those words calling on better treatment for social workers. But the truth is, we’ve been asking for better treatment for decades,” he said.
“All social workers and all workers in Nunavut deserve to be treated a little bit better than what we’re getting from the employer right now.”
Staffing issues continue to be a challenge, Rochon said, including keeping two social workers in every community.
Other issues include a lack of staff housing and a lack of mental health support. Some social workers are living out of hotel rooms, Rochon said.
Social workers, along with the rest of the Government of Nunavut union employees, are in the process of negotiating a new collective agreement with their employer.
As part of those negotiations, the NEU is putting forward some demands, Rochon said, but he wouldn’t go into details.
“We’re going to do our bargaining not through the media, but what I will say is that we’ve offered a lot of solutions and we’ve offered a lot of opportunities for the employer to meet,” he said.
The union and GN met earlier this month, and are expected to meet again in June.
The amount of racist slurs many of these social workers endure on a regular basis is sickening. Imagine if it was the other way around, we would never hear the end of it, but since it against the workers, it is just swept under the rug.
Don’t kid yourself, the Department is their biggest bully….
Starting with the ADM (who has zero child protection experience) thinks ruling with an iron fist, is the way to get the job done.
Either the Minister is turning a blind eye, or she is being fed a plate of untruths by her senior management.
What you are saying is 100% true. She was a bully in every dep she worked – people do not want toWhat you are saying is 100% true. She was a bully in What you are saying is 100% true. She was a bully in every department she worked – people do not want to work where she is in any kind of management role, and I wouldn’t recommend it – speaking from experience.
Thank you, Saila, for speaking out about these realities. As someone with frontline experience, your perspective is especially important. The line between care and harm must be crystal clear, and when the system enables or overlooks abuse or neglect—whether through poor conditions, lack of resources, or leadership failures—there must be accountability.
It’s not enough for leadership to offer excuses or to blame staff who are struggling under impossible workloads. Real change requires action from the top: proper support, safe environments, and leaders who truly listen to both staff and the community. The cycle of reports and apologies can’t continue while children remain at risk and dedicated workers are burning out or being driven out. Frankly, the first one who needs to experience real accountability is the ADM—who lacks the proper qualifications and experience, and whose decisions are harming the community.
It’s time for genuine transparency, accountability, and a real commitment to the goals set out in the Ilagiitsiarniq Family Wellness Strategic Framework. Nunavummiut deserve more than words—they deserve safety, dignity, and true change.
‘the values we hold dear’? apparently those values are not widely held by all. this is just all smoke and mirrors. a little LEG talk and no concrete action. maybe they should give classes on what those values are to the general population.
Haven’t you seen the IQ values plastered and ignored all over your workplace?
I worked in several communities as a social worker. It was great to meet people but more often than not, you were treated like the enemy especially as far as child protection goes.
Unfortunately, bringing southern ways to the north doesn’t seem to work. It is a different society that needs people to understand the complexities of their families.
Also, housing is such a huge issue with so many living in one home that is really just designed for one family has many people and children living inside of its’ walls. Anyone would fight and argue just looking for peace.
I think the government has a lot of work to do to help social workers understand the culture but mostly, fix the housing issues.
Some of the bullying and harassment is coming from INSIDE the department – maybe take a look in the mirror at your Sr. Management team – that’s where they need to start if the goal is to make workers feel safe.
Leadership sets the tone of the department- lead by example.
100%, until then children, families AND front line workers will continue to suffer.
This new “confidential” line is not the solution Nunavummiut need—it’s just another layer added to a system that’s already failing children, families, and frontline staff. As some commenters have pointed out, these kinds of reporting mechanisms (RCYO, AOG, internal complaints lines) produce reports and investigations, but they never lead to real change. Instead, they overwhelm frontline workers with more audits and paperwork, while the root problems—unsafe working conditions, chronic short-staffing, and toxic leadership—remain untouched.
The situation in the Kinngait office is a perfect example. For years, it’s been in shambles—frankly, it’s a public health and occupational safety hazard. Staff are held to impossible standards, penalized for not keeping up, and blamed when things go wrong—even when they’ve been raising red flags from the start. The result? Burnout, firings, and high turnover among the very people most committed to helping Nunavummiut. This hurts the children and families who need stable, consistent support.
Leadership is a huge part of the problem. When those at the top are bullies, unqualified, or unwilling to listen, nothing changes—no matter how many complaints are made or who they’re made to. Many staff have reported these issues to the highest levels, but it’s always swept under the rug.
And let’s be honest: this complaints line isn’t even new. It’s been around since 2020! Rebranding it doesn’t address the underlying crisis. Until the Department of Family Services starts listening to staff, fixes working conditions, and holds leadership accountable, no hotline or feedback form will make a real difference.
Nunavummiut deserve real action—not more empty promises.