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2 Tuesday April 21 2015 POLITICS LABOUR NEWS BRIEFS Yellowknife RCMP make major drug cash seizures The RCMP G Division Federal Investigation Unit con- cluded a six-month investigation in Yellowknife on Apr. 15 seizinglargeamountsofdrugsandcashintheprocess.Ata residenceinFrameLakepoliceuncoveredOxy-Cotincrack andpowdercocainemarijuanaPhenacetinover200000 and two guitars previously reported stolen. In a separate but parallel investigation RCMP also seized marijuana Percocets cocaine residue and 19000 in cash. Five men have been arrested and charged in relation to the busts. Rowes Construction ned 40000 for ice auger incident HayRivercompanyRowesConstructionisfacinga40000 ne as well as a 15 per cent victim of crime surcharge be- causeofanemployeeinjuryfromtwoyearsago.TheWorkers SafetyandCompensationCommissionWSCCsaidRowes haspleadedguiltyforfailingtoensuretheadequateinstruc- tionofeachworkerinthesafeperformanceoftheirduties. A sub-contracted worker was hurt while operating an ice auger during ice road construction near Trout Lake. WSCC reports the worker didnt receive training on the machine. Fort Smith resident facing multiple charges for violent behaviour AmanfromFortSmithisupagainstnumerouschargesthe result of an investigation that took place on the evening of Apr. 16. Tony Vermillion 39 has been charged for assault with a weapon uttering threats forcible connement pos- session of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and unsafe storage of a rearm under the Criminal Code of Canada. Vermillion will remain in custody until a scheduled court appearance on Apr. 21. 684-106 NN NJ Answer a few multiple-choice questions about emergency preparedness for the chance to win one of two emergency kits. How ready are you Dont leave it to chance. www.maca.gov.nt.ca National Emergency Preparedness Week May 3-9 2015 Know THE RISKS. Make a plan. Be ready. READY SET GO When a natural disaster or an emergency strikes how prepared are you to take care of your family and home Take The Test Visit www.maca.nt.ca Strike continues as third round of talks fail in Hay River By MEAGAN WOHLBERG A third attempt at nego- tiation has collapsed in Hay River after a day and a half of talks between town council and striking municipal em- ployees ended in failure on Monday afternoon. The latest round of nego- tiations began Sunday and ended just before lunch on Monday. According to the union both bargaining units went back and forth on a number of counters before the union presented its bot- tomline Monday morning. After some deliberation the employer returned to reject the offer. All our members are very disappointed with the fail- ure to reach a settlement said Jack Bourassa regional vice president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada in the North who said the union has modied its de- mands as much as possible in an effort to end the strike. We have already taken everything virtually off the table Bourassa said. Theres no housing allow- ance theres no travel allow- ance theres nothing left but that little wage increase and its a whole lot less than what it was before. Employees went on strike in early February after town council refused their original request for a wage increase of 2.5 per cent in the rst year followed by 2.25 per cent per year over over the life of their three-year collective agreement the last of which expired in December 2013. The towns nal offer since the start has been a 1 per cent annual increase. Bourassa couldnt give de- tails on the unions revised demands and Hay River Mayor Andrew Cassidy was unavailable for comment as of press time. The union argues that the town has already saved the cost of the wage increase many times over by not hav- ing to pay 10 weeks of salary. The estimated cost to offer the workers their requested wage bump would be around 45000 per year. Accord- ing to the unions figures the town has already saved more than seven times that. a major economic genera- tor for the community. The meetingofleadersfromevery municipality in the territory is scheduled to be held in Hay River from May 7 to 10 and is anticipated to bring in as much as 120000 to the community but threats Our members are very determined. They absolutely refuse to accept the towns measly offers when every- one knows a full settlement comes at no cost to town cof- fers said Union of Northern Workers President Todd Par- sons. We will hold the line as long as it takes to get a fair settlementthatrecognizesthe sacrices made by our mem- bers since February. NWTAC meeting in jeopardy Bourassa said the strike continuestohurtthecommu- nity. Hay River ice users lost out on a hockey and skating season as well as some curl- ing events and residents are now facing the loss of their entire swimming season. The town may now also forfeit the NWT Association of Communities NWTAC annual general meeting of picketing by the striking workers means the event could be relocated due to some leaders refusal to cross the picket line. Bourassa said the union has already been contacted by many munici- palities indicating their soli- darity with the workers. Theres about half of them who will not be coming if the event stays in Hay River Bourassa indicated. Though the municipality hasdiscussedmovingittothe Katlodeeche First Nations reserve or the golf course Bourassa said the striking workers will be there. It doesnt matter the picket line will follow he said. We will exercise every right that we have available to us to try to get their atten- tion. If that means escalat- ing to the point where there might be some costs involved to this town then so be it. It doesnt matter the picket line will follow. We will exercise every right that we have available to us to try to get their attention. If that means escalating to the point where there might be some costs involved to this town then so be it. Jack Bourassa Public Service Alliance of Canada - North PhotoMeaganWohlberg Around 30 municipal employees have been on strike in Hay River since Feb. 6.