Todd Parsons says the Union of Northern Workers is not bluffing.
“Let me be very clear, we are not bluffing. We will strike if you don’t give us a fair deal. We’ve given you every chance…we’ve even agreed to surrender our right to strike, go to binding arbitration.”
The president of the Union of Northern Workers delivered this message to a crowd of over 75 people gathered in minus 34 temperatures around noon Friday. Municipal enforcement officers blocked off 49th Street between Franklin Ave. and 51st Ave. for the duration of the gathering.
With another round of mediation starting in a week, over 75 @unw_nwt members gathered in -34 temperatures in Yellowknife today. #unionnews #nwt #gnwt #unw pic.twitter.com/YJaRNt3cSD
— Emelie Peacock (@emelie_writes) February 1, 2019
Parsons says representatives from a wide range of government sectors were present.
“Looking around I’m seeing workers from the Department of Infrastructure, I see healthcare workers that are here, power corporation workers showing up. We’ve got all the public services that are represented here today.”
READ MORE: UNW BINDING ARBITRATION OFFER REJECTED BY GOVERNMENT
The UNW and the Government of the Northwest Territories are set to start another round of mediation February 8th.