Outside the Legislative Assembly, a dozen protesters gathered to rally for the needs of housing workers in Fort Simpson while NWT MLAs met inside for the first day of the fall session on Thursday.
The protest was held in support of Fort Simpson Housing Authority workers, who have been on strike since October to demand a fair deal that will improve housing services for their communities.
“We’ve had jobs posted for an oil burner mechanic and a plumber for years now, but because the wages are so low, nobody has taken the offer,” said Loyal Letcher Jr, an apprentice housing maintainer from Fort Simpson.
“It’s really hampering our ability to fix and maintain these houses.”
From left to right, Fort Simpson Housing Authority worker Lin Beaver, Loyal Letcher Jr, Gagan Grewal, and President of the Union of Northern Workers Gayla Thunstrom.
According to a release by Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) North, the six workers in this bargaining unit currently serve about 100 houses in five communities, including Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K’e, Nahanni Butte and Wrigley.
Residents in these communities continue to experience delays in repairs and maintenance as these under-resourced workers are forced to keep up with the constant demand.
“We’re here to send a message to the government that these workers need to have fair wages benefits, and they want to get back to work,” said Thunstrom at the opening speech. (Josie Jiaxuan Wu/CKLB)
Gayla Thunstrom, the president for the Union of Northern Workers, says this is the first strike with the Fort Simpson Housing Authority in at least 20 years.
“These members take pride in doing their work, and they care about their communities,” Thunstrom told the crowd. “They don’t want to be on strike, but here we are.”
“It’s getting really expensive to stay here in the North, our wages need to keep up,” she said. “The wages are not comparable at this point in time to the government of the Northwest Territories.”
Thunstrom says the housing authority’s employer has refused to address outstanding concerns, and the union will keep calling on Housing NWT Minister Lucy Kuptana.
“We’ll stand with these workers until they get what they need.”
