Media Releases

City Proposes Resolution to Labour Impasse Through Binding Arbitration

On February 22, 2023, the City of Yellowknife (the City) extended an offer to PSAC Local X0345, as represented by the UNW (the Union), to enter binding arbitration in an effort to end the current strike.

The Canada Labour Code permits an employer and union to refer renewal of a collective agreement to binding arbitration. Binding arbitration consists of both parties having equal opportunity to share information and their position with a third-party arbitrator, who ultimately makes a decision. An...

Turn Your Yard Into a Food Garden Program

The City of Yellowknife (the City) and Northern Roots are excited to announce a new workshop series where residents can learn vegetable production skills, attain food growing and harvesting training, and receive ongoing mentorship support to turn their yard into an abundant food garden.

The teaching and mentorship provided comes from Northern Roots Consulting, which has 33 years of working with the land, the soil, people and crops/plants. This program will span approximately nine months, and will...

Negotiations Break Down

The City of Yellowknife (the City) and PSAC Local X0345, as represented by the UNW (the Union), returned to the bargaining table on Monday, February 13, 2023.  The City is disappointed to confirm that the Union chose to end bargaining and left the table at 6:00 p.m. without responding to the City’s latest offer.

The City has offered a fair deal, including base wage increases of 2% per year for 2022 and 2023 (totaling 4% more than what employees are currently making). The City also increased its...

Ashes Suspected of Garbage Collection Fire

Disposal of ashes in garbage bins can cause serious issues at Yellowknife’s Solid Waste Facility (SWF) and for our community. On Friday, February 3, 2023, a load of waste collected by Kavanaugh Waste Management, on behalf of the City of Yellowknife, was on fire.  The suspected cause of the fire was hot ash discarded in garbage bins. 

This past summer, lithium-ion batteries were also improperly disposed and suspected to have caused two separate fires at the Solid Waste Facility.

Kavanaugh Waste...

Balancing a Fair and Affordable Agreement

The City’s objective remains to negotiate a collective agreement that is fair, respects the important role City employees play in Yellowknife, and is affordable for the city’s residents and businesses. 

The Union’s latest proposal to the City, as reported by the CBC, includes a 5% wage increase in 2022, a 3% wage increase in 2023; a $1000 signing bonus for all unionized staff, an $800 per year increase to vacation travel assistance, 2 additionaldays personal leave, additional medical travel leave...