Minister silent on call for housing authority to be ordered back to bargaining table

Nunavut Employees Union sent letter to Kusugak, housing corporation president, prior to start of strike

Unionized workers with the Iqaluit Housing Authority strike outside their workplace in Iqaluit. (Photo by Meral Jamal)

By  Meral Jamal

The territory’s minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation won’t comment on an ongoing strike by unionized employees at the Iqaluit Housing Authority.

The three MLAs who represent Iqaluit are also quiet on the strike.

Thirteen workers have been on the picket line since March 17.

The Nunavut Employees Union, which represents employees, wrote to minister Lorne Kusugak and housing corporation president Eiryn Devereaux on March 16, calling on the housing corporation to mandate the Iqaluit Housing Authority to return to negotiations.

In the letter, the union called on the housing corporation to resolve the labour dispute in Iqaluit and ensure all of Nunavut’s local housing organizations are providing fair compensation to their employees.

“Doing this will encourage staff recruitment and retention allowing local housing organizations to provide much-needed services to their communities,” the union said in its letter.

However, Kusugak “will not be commenting on the strike as the strike is between the union and Iqaluit Housing Authority,” said Michael Courtney, the ministerial political adviser to Kusugak, in a statement emailed to Nunatsiaq News.

As well, Iqaluit MLAs Janet Brewster, George Hickes and Adam Arreak Lightstone have not responded to Nunatsiaq News’ request for comment on the matter.

Lightstone did visit workers outside the Iqaluit Housing Authority on the first day of the strike.

NEU president Jason Rochon said Nunavut’s NDP MP Lori Idlout has shown support for striking workers, with her constituency assistants visiting last week. Photos of the visit were posted to social media by the union.

“The majority of politicians who are in a position to do something [however] remain conspicuously silent,” Rochon said.