Workers at the Fort Simpson Housing Authority began strike action on Tuesday morning.
Last week, their union – the Public Service Alliance of Canada – said eight members were affected in a dispute over what the PSAC termed “fair wages and improved services.”
The union has said an essential services agreement will ensure “services related to the immediate health, safety, and wellbeing of tenants will continue to be provided.”
However, non-essential repairs, winterization work, “routine service requests” and tenant inquiries will be affected, the union said.
“Housing workers in Fort Simpson are on strike beginning this morning and are committed to reaching a fair deal that will improve housing services for their community,” PSAC spokesperson Aaron Manton said by email on Tuesday.
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Josée-Anne Spirito, PSAC’s regional executive vice-president, told the CBC the housing authority’s management had “refused to address outstanding concerns” at a last-ditch meeting before the weekend. The authority could not be reached for comment.
A collective agreement covering the authority’s staff expired last year. Workers passed a strike vote in August.
The authority also serves Jean Marie River, Sambaa K’e, Nahanni Butte and Wrigley. In all, PSAC says, the authority oversees around 100 housing units. The communities involved have a total population of some 1,750 people.
