Government of Nunavut reaches tentative deal with union

The Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Employees Union have reached a tentative collective agreement for approximately 4,000 public servants in the territory.

Human Resources Minister David Akeeagok made the announcement Friday in the legislative assembly, with more than a dozen representatives from the union and bargaining team looking on from the gallery.

“[This agreement] balances the need of employees with the fiscal realities of our government, and it recognizes the vital contributions that our public service makes every day in our schools, health centres, offices and our communities,” he said.

Akeeagok didn’t provide details about what is in the deal, saying it’s headed for a ratification vote.

Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster used her member’s statement to congratulate the GN and union for reaching the deal.

“I do wish our unionized employees very good luck in their decision to ratify or not to ratify this agreement, and I hope that it is an agreement that Nunavut employees can get behind and ratify,” she said.

Nunavut Employees Union president Jason Rochon declined to provide specifics of what’s in the deal, citing the ratification process.

He did praise it, though, calling the deal the “most progressive” one reached in Nunavut’s 26-year history. Rochon said it includes a wage increase, although he did not provide a dollar figure.

“I think we worked as best as we possibly could together. There were some really tough discussions,” Rochon said.

“Tomorrow was always another day, and that was one of the reasons why we got to where we were today.”

The previous collective agreement expired Sept. 30, 2024.