With strike votes continuing across the territory it could be months before unionized NWT government employees know if they'll be hitting the picket line.
“I wouldn't be surprised if the negotiating process drags on for many more months,” Union of Northern Workers president Todd Parsons, said Wednesday.
The government's proposal for a new collective agreement falls well short of the union's salary expectations, he said. The last collective agreement expired in March 2016.
The union wants a yearly three per cent salary increase for the next three years.
The government is pushing for a four year collective agreement with no wage hikes for the first two years, a one per cent increase in the third year and a 1.1 per cent raise in the fourth year.
When asked about the union's demands in February, Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod declined to say whether he would support a three per cent wage increase.
“We continue to try to have conversations with them and hopefully come to an agreement,” said McLeod on Feb. 8.
Parsons said hundreds of members have attended the strike vote meetings and they appear united in wanting a better wage offer from the government.
While the union needs only a “simple majority” to proceed, Parsons said that for the job action to be successful, he would want more than 70 per cent of workers to be in favour of a strike.
At meetings in Yellowknife on Monday and Tuesday, UNW members were presented with the outstanding issues for both the union and the government before voting by secret ballot.
“Members (were) given two choices,” said Parsons. “Yes, they are in support of a strike, up to and including a general strike, or no, they are not prepared to support a strike.”
There were also strike vote meetings in Behchoko, Hay River and Fort Smith this week, and more votes will take place in Fort Simpson, Norman Wells and Inuvik this month.
It has not been decided when, or if, the vote count will be released, said Parsons. That choice will be made by the bargaining team.
The union will request another round of bargaining with the government after the strike votes are complete.
Officials from the Department of Finance did not respond to a request for comment before press time.