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The Nunavut Employees Union officially came into existence on April 1, 1999, upon the birth of the Nunavut Territory. Preparations had begun almost two years earlier. Previously our members belonged to the Union of Northern Workers, uniting government workers across the Northwest Territories. Thus our history begins with the founding of the Northwest Territories Government Employees Association, which later evolved into the UNW. In 1967 federal government employees working in the Northwest Territories, who were also members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), began being transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories. This left them without a union, so they worried about how they were going to be represented. Many wanted to continue to be PSAC members. In mid-1968, a group of GNWT employees got together and signed up more than 50% of their co-workers. These people became the NWT Government Employees Association. In order to gain collective bargaining rights for the group, labour legislation had to be written. In November, 1969, the NWT Public Service Association (NWTPSA) was officially established to bargain effectively for most GNWT employees. In May, 1970 the NWTPSA became a component of the PSAC. On May 15th a founding convention was held in Yellowknife, and bargaining began May 20th. The contract was signed June 8th, 1970, and ran from April 1, 1970 to March 31, 1972. 
By the 1980s, the NWTPSA began signing up members from Hamlets and Housing Associations. By the late 80s the union added its first private sector members. At the 1987 convention, the name of the union was changed to the Union of Northern Workers, marking a wider, more diverse range of workers. In September, 1997 a referendum vote was held by the UNW members in what would soon become the Nunavut Territory. A positive vote gave the UNW Executive a mandate to form an Advisory Committee to establish a separate component that would represent the Nunavut government employees, Northwest Territories Power Corporation (Nunavut residents) and the unionized employees of Nunavut Hamlet and Housing Associations. On May 5-6, 1998 the Nunavut Advisory Committee met in Ottawa at the Public Service Alliance of Canada Headquarters and drafted the by-laws for the Nunavut Employees Union with the assistance of Mike Martin, PSAC Component Administrator, Jean-Francois DesLauriers, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the North, and Mark Watters, PSAC Director of Finance and Administration.  
On May 12, 1998, the Alliance Executive Committee approved the establishment of the NEU and directed the UNW to transfer all UNW members to the NEU, effective on that date. On June 11-13, 1998 the NEU Advisory Committee met with the UNW and agreed to a memorandum of understanding whereby Nunavut employees would be provided with continuing services by the UNW until the founding convention of the NEU. In September, 1998 an Executive Assistant and a Service Officer became the first employees of the NEU. At the end of October, 1998 the NEU opened its Executive Office in Iqaluit. On October 16, 17, and 18, 1998 the Founding Convention was held in Iqaluit and a president and a full executive was elected by delegates. An operating budget was approved for 1998 through to 2002. There was no increase in member dues. The Founding Convention delegates approved the official name of the Nunavut Employees Union and its logo. Doug Workman was elected as President, Marion Love, first Vice President, and Wilma Pigalak, second Vice President. Jackie Simpson, President of UNW and Darrel Bean, President of PSAC, wished NEU ever success. The delegates selected a name and logo for our new union. Our official name is Nunavut Employees Union. Twenty-three delegates from across the territory gathered on October 16, 2002 in Cambridge Bay to consider and vote on a long list of resolutions which had been previously submitted by the membership, and to elect officers for the next three years. Delegates were instructed in the rules of order that were to be used in the proceedings. Debbie McLaughlin from the PSAC office in Yellowknife led the pre-convention workshop, with valuable input from John Gordon, National Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, Regional Executive Vice President, PSAC North. 
The second day began with an Inuktitut rendition of O Canada by local school children, followed by an address by NEU President Doug Workman and by guest speaker Bill Lyall, President of the Arctic Co-op. Mr Lyall outlined the history of the Co-op and drew parallels between his organization and the Union. The assembly then began to discuss and vote upon the resolutions that had been brought before the convention. Importantly, a new executive position was created, that of Secretary-Treasurer. This new officer was to be elected along with other members of the executive on Sunday. On Friday evening, a banquet was held to honour the members who went out on strike in 2001. A commemorative plaque bearing the names of these strikers was made for each of the three regional offices. Each striker was presented with a limited edition NEU lapel pin.  
On the third day, guest speaker James Eetoolook, Vice-President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated expressed his support for Nunavut workers and the need for better salaries and benefits, and cited the need for training programs that will enable more Inuit people to fill government jobs. A resolution that members of the Executive (except for President) may also be eligible for election to local and sub-local office (if the local has fewer than one hundred members) was passed. Resolutions to form a separate bargaining unit for nurses and to increase the salary of the President were defeated. However the job description of the President will be evaluated and the salary reviewed. A resolution was passed to create two positions of Harassment Officer, one male and one female. Fifteen days of salary replacement for each Harassment Officer to investigate complaints was allocated in the budget. On Saturday evening, the NEU hosted a community feast for NEU members and their families, followed by an evening of entertainment. An abundance of traditional food was prepared by the "Ladies of Nunavut" in Cambridge Bay. On Sunday, the final day of the convention, Doug Workman was re-elected President of the Union. Mitch Taylor of Iqaluit was elected First Vice-President, and David Kaosoni of Cambridge Bay was elected Second Vice-President. Kevin Nipanatiak of end the PSAC convention in Montreal in April, 2003. Six delegates and six alternates were elected to attend the PSAC convention in Montreal in April, 2003. → back to top |
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