Mr. Speaker, I indicated to the Member yesterday in a private conversation that we should be careful not to take over the collective negotiations on behalf of the unions and employees here in the Legislature because the issue of salaries, settlement allowances, vacation travel assistance, other benefits as well as many of the other issues that affect the benefits and salaries of employees are negotiated by the unions at the appropriate time with the government. Such things like the settlement allowance, for instance, are used to offset the different costs of living in different areas of the north. There will be some evening out of benefits. The Member knows it will be up to the unions to decide when negotiations commence, and where the limited dollars, which the government may have to offer in the course of negotiations, will be best used. If they choose to put it all in vacation travel assistance or in settlement allowances then there will not be much money for salary levels. Again, the pay equity issue is a huge outstanding issue that can affect not only the union negotiations but the entire fiscal position of this government. We have responded as a government. The response I gave in the course of the debate on the motion, I think, was clear. That is the extent to which the government is prepared to make changes. It has been done in consultation with the MLAs, I think that is a fair way to proceed and that is the way we are going to leave it at this time. Thank you.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question 480-12(3): Indexing Of Rental Rates And Utility Charges
In the Legislative Assembly on March 12th, 1993. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 480-12(3): Indexing Of Rental Rates And Utility Charges
Question 480-12(3): Indexing Of Rental Rates And Utility Charges
Item 5: Oral Questions
March 11th, 1993
Page 883
See context to find out what was said next.