Nunavut federal workers join nationwide strike
About 60 federal public service workers take to the picket line in Iqaluit on Wednesday
Federal public service workers are on strike in Iqaluit. They are among the more than 155,000 workers from across Canada who walked off the job Wednesday. (Photo by David Lochead)
Approximately 60 federal public service workers stood on the picket line Wednesday in Iqaluit, as part of one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history.
“The morale of people is good right now,” said Geoff Ryan, the strike captain at Iqaluit’s picket line, which set up in front of the federal government’s Qimugjuk Building on Sivumugiaq Street.
The workers, who are represented by Public Service Alliance of Canada, are part of Nunavut’s contingent among the 155,000 federal service workers who walked off the job across Canada early Wednesday.
The union is seeking a 13.5 per cent wage increase over three years.
“We are trying to keep up with inflation,” Ryan said.
“The offer from the employer does not meet where inflation is.”
He called any number less than keeping up with inflation a “wage cut.”
Iqaluit’s striking workers include employees from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, clerical staff from the RCMP, workers from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as workers from Service Canada. About 150 federal workers in Nunavut are represented by PSAC, according to the union.
Nunavummiut on strike are receiving a higher strike pay, at $141 a day, compared to other parts of the country, Ryan said, to account for the higher cost of living in the territory.
There is also a hardship fund that people can apply for assistance from.
Ryan said federal employees on strike in smaller communities, where there are no organized picket lines, have been asked to volunteer or do something that may benefit their community.
The Treasury Board website released a statement that says it gave employees a “fair, competitive offer” that includes a nine-per-cent wage increase over three years. The government added its offer addressed other PSAC priorities such as telework, shift premiums, improved leave with pay for family-related responsibilities, and measures to support employment equity, diversity and inclusion.
With nearly a third of the entire federal public service workers on strike, delays or a complete shutdown of services nationwide are expected.
Both PSAC and the federal government have stated they will remain at the bargaining table.
Ryan said the picket line will continue in Iqaluit on Thursday at the same location, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Iqaluit site is Canada’s northernmost picket line in this strike, according to the PSAC website.
I hope they get a livable wage for Nunavut.
Many of the striking work force here determine many of your programs eligibilities that you need to live. but first, they have to have their needs met. I hope they will eventually understand your needs when you come to them after their strike is over….maybe not. Every human need is important so they walk in circles. Maybe they will look at you differently this summer as you enter their offices for support of some kind….we’re in luck, services are about to improve with federal programs, hey.
These are the highest waged people in the territory. These are people who claim to care for others, while they abandon their duties and screw over the public, especially our most vulnerable. It’s ridiculous.
You always have nothing to say. Federal employees are not even close to the highest wage earners in the territory. Fed employees make much less wages for comparable positions than the GN, City, QEC, NTI, QIA, etc… nice try to drag folks down to your always depressed level
Ummm the federal workers in nunavut make less than most hamlet and definitely less than most Territorial workers. Their salaries are in line with ottawa salaries not nunavut salaries.
Federal employees pay next to nothing for rent, vta etc. They certainly wouldn’t be up north if there was no benefit to them. Let’s get real.
Rent:
Your comment implies the only federal workers in Nunavut are from the south. Think before you comment. There are many Inuit and long term northern residents in the public service with the feds.
I work for the Feds and I can honestly tell you I’m required to pay $3300.00 a month for a 3 bedroom town house . Which is supposed to be subsidized.
So please don’t say Feds pay peanuts in rent, the IPA offered to us. All go towards the rent charges so we make nothing compared to the GN, Organizations, Hamlets.
The only good thing is the housing provided, yes the GN might offered it but you received more professionalism from the crown Housing staff, that’s it !!
A non-subsidized 1 bedroom apartment is $3600-3820 a month. It is ridiculously high and difficult to afford, especially when you have dependants. But unfortunately $3300 for a three bedroom is a really good price for Iqaluit.
I have never seen the public sympathize or side with a striking public service, ever. In reality most people despise them, and they know it.
They’re in the union, so they have the right to strike and have the union negotiate their salary.
Oh yea…
Is this related to my comment somehow?
Okay… ?
Just because you apparently despise public sector workers doesn’t mean that everyone does. The majority of Nunavummiut in the workforce work for the public sector in one way or another (e.g. Gov of Canada, Gov of Nunavut, Hamlets, Federal & GN Agencies). All workers — public, private or not-for-profit — deserve fair compensation and good working conditions. Vilifying one class of worker puts downward pressure on all workers’ attempts to get fair compensation and working conditions. And that only benefits unreasonable employers.
I didn’t say I despise them.
However, I am beginning to despise the intentional misrepresentation of comments for the sake of scoring petty ‘wins’ though.
There was a good article in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday titled: ‘People hate us’: Striking public servants know they don’t have the hearts and minds of Canadians.’
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/people-hate-us-striking-public-servants-know-they-dont-have-the-hearts-and-minds-of-canadians
It’s worth checking out.
To quote you:
“In reality most people despise them, and they know it.
Why use the word “despise” then? You could have simply stopped at the end of your first sentence and your point would have been made. To add the second sentence quoted above could certainly lead someone to believe that this is your actual feeling on the matter.
Second, I never disputed that public sector workers seldom enjoy majority public support when they strike. If you gad stopped your comment after the first sentence, I wouldn’t have felt compelled to respond.
Third, I don’t think we should necessarily assume that opinions of Southern Canadians in this case represent the feelings of Nunavummiut given the high proportion of the workforce here that is in the public sector.
Nunavummiut make up 150 of 155,000 federal workers.
Why in the world would I only be talking about them?
One more strike Iqaluit and you’re out 😉
if one of the demands is wanting to work from home is the union letting their members strike from home??? and still get strike pay??? just asking for a friend 😉
PSAC has multi-millions of dollars. Striking every couple of years keeps them in business.
The PSAC strike is just the first of many that the economy of this country will have to endure over the next couple of years. Get used to it!