Essential Services Q & A
What services will the GNWT continue to provide in the event of a strike?
Although the GNWT will be unable to provide all of the services it normally provides to the residents of the NWT, essential services will continue to be delivered.
What are considered essential services?
Essential services are services that are required to:
- protect the health and safety of the public,
- prevent destruction or serious deterioration of machinery, equipment or premises, and
- prevent disruption of the administration of the courts.
How is it determined which services are essential?
The Union of Northern Workers and the GNWT negotiate the duties that are essential and the positions required to perform the duties.
When are negotiations for essential services being held?
Negotiations started on November 24, 2008 and will continue until an agreement is completed.
What happens if the Union of Northern Workers and the GNWT don’t agree on which duties are essential?
Where the UNW and the GNWT do not agree, the outstanding issues are presented to an arbitrator who will make a final and legally binding decision.
Who pays for the arbitrator?
The UNW and the GNWT each pay half of the arbitration costs.
How does someone find out what duties have been deemed as essential?
The details surrounding the essential services negotiations are kept confidential until the essential services agreement is finalized.
How does an employee find out that their position has been designated as essential?
Upon completion of the essential services agreement, the GNWT will notify employees who are required to work during a strike to perform essential services.
Can an employee, who has been notified that they are required to work to perform an essential service, participate in a strike?
No, employees who have been deemed as essential must perform the essential duties.
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