Published 10:27 am Wednesday, December 10, 2025 The Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) ratified a deal with a the GN to improve working conditions for its employees on Dec. 4, after the last contract expired in September 2024. Wages for unionized employees will increase by three per cent this year and next, with a 2.5 per cent wage increase in 2027. The Northern Allowance for NEU members will increase by two per cent next year and three per cent in 2027. Continuous service bonuses for employees working more than three years will get increased by $1,000. Inuktitut speakers will see their incentives increased by between $500 and $1,000, depending on their level. Standby pay will increase to $40 per hour from $25 per hour. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit leave has increased to three days. Mandatory rest periods of a minimum of eight hours between shifts have also been added. Ratification meetings were held in most of Nunavut’s communities over six weeks beginning October, but some communities couldn’t be reached due to weather delays, Meral Jamal, a communications officer for the NEU said. “A solid majority of the GN members who attended ratification meetings voted in favour of the agreement,” Jamal said. “It is a standard practice of the NEU and PSAC not to share vote totals or turnout on ratification votes, unless the union concludes it would be useful going into the next round of negotiations to do so.” The NEU agreed to the deal on Sept. 11 but needed its members to ratify the deal for the contact to become official. This new collective agreement will expire in 2028.
Solid majority of Nunavut Employees Union members ratify deal with GN
