Nunavut’s electricity workers have secured a new four‑year collective agreement with Qulliq Energy Corp. (QEC) that will raise wages by 18 per cent over the term and expand paid leave for Inuit cultural activities, the Nunavut Employees Union said.
What the agreement provides
Ratified on Aug. 6, the deal between the union and the territory’s power utility starts with a 12-per-cent wage increase effective Jan. 1, 2025, followed by annual increases of 2 per cent in 2026, 2027 and 2028, according to a news release from the Nunavut Employees Union.
The contract also raises continuous service bonuses and expands a provision known as Inuit cultural pursuit leave, which gives Inuit employees paid time off to engage in hunting, fishing, harvesting and other traditional activities. That leave will increase from two days to three days per year.
“The new collective agreement shows what’s possible when we work together to improve workplaces and working conditions for employees who keep the lights on in Nunavut communities,”
said Jason Rochon, president of the Nunavut Employees Union, in the release.
Local impact and stability
Because QEC operates the territory’s electrical generation and distribution systems, the agreement touches a wide cross‑section of Nunavummiut — from plant operators and line crews to administrative staff — and aims to provide stability for those who deliver essential services in remote communities.
Gwen Healey Akearok, the minister responsible for Qulliq Energy Corp., said in the same release that the agreement “provides stability that will benefit our employees and our communities in the years ahead.” The minister’s comment underscored the territorial government’s interest in maintaining reliable services across Nunavut.
How negotiations unfolded
Talks on a new contract began in September 2025. A tentative agreement was reached in May 2026, followed by ratification meetings held in late June in Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake, with an online option for members to participate.
The timeline suggests the parties worked through a standard bargaining cycle to balance wage demands, benefits and operational needs for utility services that must be maintained year‑round in a northern climate.
At a glance: wage increases over the contract
| Effective date | Wage increase |
|---|---|
| Jan. 1, 2025 | 12% |
| 2026 | 2% |
| 2027 | 2% |
| 2028 | 2% |
| Total over four years | 18% |
Why Inuit cultural pursuit leave matters
Inuit cultural pursuit leave recognises that subsistence activities — hunting, fishing and harvesting — are not only cultural practices but also important for food security and community wellbeing. Expanding paid time off for these activities can help employees balance shift schedules and seasonal harvesting cycles, particularly in smaller hamlets where many workers juggle wage employment and traditional land‑based livelihoods.
For many Nunavummiut, even one additional paid day can mean more flexibility to travel on the land, prepare country foods for the family and participate in intergenerational knowledge sharing.
Other contract features and next steps
The agreement includes enhanced continuous service bonuses, which reward long‑term employees, although the release did not specify the dollar amounts or eligibility thresholds. The parties have not released further operational details publicly.
- Agreement ratified: Aug. 6, 2026
- Contract length: four years
- Key gains: 18% total wage increase; Inuit cultural pursuit leave increased to three days; increased continuous service bonuses
Negotiations and collective agreements with public utilities shape the lives of workers and the resilience of services in the North. This settlement aims to balance improved compensation and workplace supports with the need to keep electricity services reliable for communities across Nunavut.
For members of the Nunavut Employees Union and communities served by QEC, the new contract offers short‑term income gains and a modest expansion of cultural recognition that may influence how employees manage work alongside traditional responsibilities.
Further details, including the precise structure of continuous service bonuses and any operational changes, were not included in the union’s release. The Nunavut Employees Union and Qulliq Energy Corp. made the announcement publicly but did not provide additional comment beyond the release at the time of publication.
