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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Column misses the point on labour dispute

0205raises1
Todd Parsons, seen during a protest outside the legislative assembly, will be president of the Union of Northern Workers for at least one more year after the UNW announced it was pushing its triennial convention back to 2021. It was originally scheduled to happen this coming October.

From: Mindy Frost-Greene,

Yellowknife

Dear editor,

I was a little surprised when reading this commentary (“How much is too much,” Yellowknifer, Oct. 31). I’m not certain that the writer (the paper's editor, no less) understands how inflation works -- or how wages of the employees of perhaps the largest employer in the NWT have a direct effect on local economy. While there may be a prevailing sense that government workers exist in a bubble of bliss, resting heads on bags of money when they sleep at night, please be assured that such is not the case; even government workers struggle to make ends meet up here.

Not to mention the other issues at hand besides the lack of inflation counterbalance (and to be clear, when it comes to wages, inflation counterbalance is what’s being discussed; speaking of "raises" is somewhat misleading).

Regarding the issue of inflation counterbalance: When the cost of living (food, fuel, mortgage, etc. etc.) keeps rising and rising while wages stay the same, people have to pour more and more money into just existing. When this happens, the economy suffers, because people are able to afford less and less (as prices go up -- inflation -- and wages do not); eventually, when not kept in balance, some people may find they are simply not able to afford to live in the North anymore. Yet others find there's just no incentive to stay if they can make a comparable wage in the south, where they won’t need to contend with specifically Northern difficulties (such as our long dark winters, which can be rough for many). We can start to see the effects when local businesses struggle and/or sink, people start to move away; people who remain are stressed and maxed out.

It may sound dramatic, but it’s quite real; and, while GNWT employees certainly do not single-handedly support the economy of the North, they are undeniably a significant factor.

Yet another major issue pertains to relief and casual workers: A strong economy needs good, indeterminate jobs. People need job security, stable paycheques and benefits they can rely on. We know that this sort of thing is pretty intrinsic to a well-functioning society.

Further, "I have been told there is very little support among workers" comes across as wishy-washy writing, at best. “Told” by whom, exactly? Now, of course not every member of the GNWT union voted in favour of a strike, but many did. That being said, many who did vote in favour of a strike would really rather not strike, and would much rather see a solid agreement made; because indeed, as was pointed out in “How much,” people worry about how over-extended they might be – or already are, for that matter. The thing is that, despite the very real risk and worry, there are important issues on the table, and what the union is asking for on behalf of its workers is hardly outrageous.

Would the writer prefer that people not stand up for quality in work and life? Should the union aim to lower the worth of employees, rather than setting their aim high? Is the message to just lie down and allow workplace benefits to ebb away?

If there is a strike, it is my sincere hope that it is extremely brief but effective. We should be aiming to progress towards a better future for the workforce – be it government or private sector, rather than chipping away at that which raises the standard.