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2 Tuesday June 23 2015 POLITICS LABOUR NEWS BRIEFS Burned Polaris apartments without sprinkler systems re marshal The Yellowknife Polaris apartments that went up in ames on June 14 did not have sprinkler systems installed said NWT re marshal Chucker Dewar a factor that could have saved the structure from some of the extensive damage it suffered. The building was built before current legislation requiring sprinklers was enacted thus the sprinklers were notmandatory.Investigatorshaveconcludedthedamageis too extensive to reach a conclusive cause for the re. Philip Blake holds onto chief position in Tsiigehtchic band election The Gwichya Gwichin Band in the far northern char- ter community of Tsiigehtchic held its municipal elec- tions last week with incumbent Philip Blake holding on to his top position as chief. Following election day on June 15 results showed Blake is joined in the local government by councillors Shelley Andre Charlene Blake and John Norbert. Two aircrafts involved in fatal crash near Fort McMurray Two people are deceased following a mid-air collision that tookplacebetweentwosmallairplanesinnorthernAlberta thisweekend.Atapproximately800p.m.onJune21Wood BuffaloRegionalEmergencyServicesreceivedareportofthe crash in the skies east of Fort McMurray. One of the planes was able to land safely the pilot alone and uninjured. Fol- lowinganairsearchthesecondaircraftwaslocateditstwo occupants conrmed dead. The Transport Safety Board of Canada has been contacted to investigate the incident. 926 MACKENZIE HIGHWAY HAY RIVER NT 867-874-2771 Toll Free 1-866-327-0717 www.monsterrec.com PLUS A great selection of outboard motors are on sale now OUFITTER SERIES 16 AND 18 FEET Appraised at 515000 asking 499000 Centrally located 6 car parking 3 complete private suites double lot Brand new furnace plumbing and electrical all new windows totally renovated hardwood throughout main floor All appliances and furniture are negotiable. Turn-key operation live in one suite and rent the others or operate a bed and breakfast. TRIPLEX FOR SALE 28 Cumming Avenue Fort Smith NT Email ruth_ rolfehotmail.com for enquiries or to set up a viewing. Striking workers vote to reject latest offer from Town of Hay River By MEAGAN WOHLBERG Hay River residents hop- ing the ongoing municipal strike would be over last week were sorely disap- pointed after striking work- ers rejected the latest offer by the town saying they want a deal similar to other contracts signed recently in the territory. Mayor and council had upped their offer to an an- nual wage increase of 1.7 per cent at the most recent talks betweenthedisputingparties earlier this month. On Wednesday night the unions bargaining team brought the offer to the mem- bersforavote.Theprocessin- volvedasecretballotwherein over two-thirds of the mem- bership rejected the offer. According to Union of Northern Workers president Todd Parsons the workers are looking for parity with other collective agreements signed recently in the NWT. Recent agreements with the Village of Fort Simpson Fort Smith Housing Author- ity and AVENS A Commu- nity for Seniors have all pro- duced wage settlements of two per cent per year or bet- ter Parsons said. Yet this employer refuses to bend in reaching a similar reason- able settlement. Mayor Andrew Cassidy said the 1.7 per cent offer was just up for grabs on the condition that the members would vote on it. Now that the offer has been rejected he said negotiations wont fall back to square one - that is the original offer of a 1 per cent annual increase - but did say the current offer on the table for the workers is now back to 1.55 per cent where it had been left off previously. That 1.55 per cent is back on the table and open for ac- ceptance Cassidy said. Though the offer was to be immediately taken to the collective agreement is the wage increase. The union which has been requesting a 2.25-2.5 per cent increaseoverthethreeyearsof thecollectiveagreementwhich expiredinDecember2013said itcontinuestourgethetownto soften its hardline position. While our negotiations have fallen through our the members for a vote fol- lowing the latest round of negotiations on June 1 the union balked after the town refused to sign a back to work agreement that would guarantee job security for all of the workers. According to Cassidy that return to work agreement has since been hashed out and all thats left to negotiate in members are still condent we can find the common ground necessary to reach an agreement said Jack Bourassa regional execu- tive vice president for PSAC North. Town of Hay River workers will stand together until we reach a fair and rea- sonable deal. Bourassa said dates for fu- turenegotiationsarepending. Recent agreements with the Village of Fort Simpson Fort Smith Housing Authority and AVENS A Community for Seniors have all produced wage settlements of two per cent per year or better. Todd Parsons Union of Northern Workers PhotoDaliCarmichael Union signs line the highway into Hay River where municipal workers have been on strike since February.