Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back colleagues and Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, nearly a year ago, on October 15, 1997, I provided written notice to the Union of Northern Workers to begin collective bargaining. Mr. Speaker, at that time, I set out two very important items that the government wanted to resolve. These two items were the rates of pay for the implementation of the new job evaluation system and a settlement of the equal pay complaint. Mr. Speaker, the government backed up its sincere desire for a negotiated agreement with the UNW by budgeting $40 million. Mr. Speaker, this is a significant amount of money, especially in light of the many other competing demands such as health, education and housing. Mr. Speaker, at collective bargaining we listened carefully to all the issues that the UNW brought to the table. Through negotiations, many of these issues were resolved and signed off. When it came time to discuss the government's two important items, the UNW refused to even talk. At one point, the UNW did show some willingness to participate in a joint review of the Job Evaluation System and went as far as to sign an agreement to that effect. However, the UNW did not show up for that review. Instead, when the UNW returned to the bargaining table, its PSAC spokesperson said he had specific instructions to not talk about the government's bargaining items. He said that he had no mandate to negotiate on these items.
Mr. Speaker, since the UNW had no mandate to negotiate rates of pay for the implementation of the new job evaluation system and a settlement of the equal pay complaint, a final settlement offer was tabled with the UNW. It was our sincere hope, Mr. Speaker, that the UNW would take the offer out to employees and seek the necessary mandate to conclude a collective agreement and a settlement of the equal pay complaint. Mr. Speaker, the final settlement offer that was put on the table is clear evidence of the GNWT's sincere effort to negotiate with the UNW. The offer would have enabled the government to implement a new job evaluation system and resolve the long outstanding equal pay complain. This would have been achieved with absolutely no down-side risk for any employee or the UNW. The offer represents more money in the pockets of every employee. Wages would have increased from between two percent to 31 percent in the first year and by another two percent in the second year. Affected employees would have received equal pay payments ranging from $790 to $33,199. Northern allowance increases ranged from $421 to $4,096 with an annual lump sum amount of $500 for everyone.
Mr. Speaker, instead of using the offer to seek a mandate from its members, the UNW adopted a strategy of trying to influence Members of this Assembly to bring a halt to efforts to negotiate wage rates based on the new job evaluation system and settle the equal pay complaint. Mr. Speaker, while this government ignored the UNW's rhetoric and personal insults, we did listen carefully to every issue and objection raised. We also listened carefully to comments by employees and the general public.
The general consensus, Mr. Speaker, is that the government's original offer is a good one and that employees would have accepted it if they had been given a democratic opportunity to vote on it. However, there were also concerns expressed about the fairness of the equal pay payments for former employees and with a job evaluation review process that did not have a fully independent chairperson.
Mr. Speaker, these concerns with the government's offer could have been addressed at the bargaining table, had the UNW raised its issues in that forum. Nevertheless, after hearing these concerns, we offered to make revisions to the government's offer at the bargaining table.
We also decided to negotiate revisions to our offer to provide simple interest on the equal pay payments. As well, we decided to consider appropriate revisions to reflect changes in point ratings resulting from the informal employee job evaluation review process.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, our offers to return to the bargaining table with the assistance of a mediator were met with allegations of bargaining in bad faith. Our proposal to return to the bargaining table, with or without the assistance of a mediator, was met with the precondition that the government, in effect, withdraws from the table the two very important items that we want to discuss. The UNW still insisted on its preconditions and its bad faith bargaining allegation even after the GNWT let it be known that it was prepared to take the settlement of the equal pay complaint off the table if that was the only outstanding issue.
Mr. Speaker, the stalling of serious negotiations has gone on for too long. It is time to bring the parties to the table tgo resolve outstanding matters in ways that will ensure serious efforts are made. Accordingly, it is this government's intention to follow the process as set out in the Public Service Act for doing so. We have, therefore, applied to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories for the appointment of a mediator. With the assistance of a mediator, we wish to table a revised offer for consideration by the UNW. We will approach these
negotiations with an open mind and a willingness to consider all options. It remains our objective, Mr. Speaker, to conclude an agreement with the UNW on a package that includes rates of pay based on the new job evaluation system and a settlement of the equal pay dispute. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause