NAPS reaches tentative labour agreement

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) bargaining team and the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) have secured a tentative labour agreement. NAPS officers voted overwhelming in favour of a strike mandate on July 12, 2016.

“I am very proud of our bargaining team for all their work and to the officers who stood strong and lobbied their provincial and federal political representatives to fund First Nations policing effectively”, says Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Regional Executive Vice President for Ontario.

Ratification meetings will be set up where members will have an opportunity to learn about the new tentative agreement and democratically vote to decide whether to reject or accept the agreement.

“Our officers are thankful for the overwhelming support we received from the communities we service during this difficult round of negotiations” states Jason Storkson, a police officer in the community and the union local president. “We are proud of the work we do and are working hard to make our First Nations Policing program the best it can be.”

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler has issued the following statement after an eleventh-hour labour agreement has been reached between negotiators for the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) Board and officers represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC):

“We are grateful to learn that a tentative agreement has been reached between the negotiators for both parties that will avert a labour action. We congratulate both bargaining teams and everyone involved in this lengthy and trying process. This will come as a relief to the leaders of NAN First Nations policed by NAPS who have been justifiably fearful of the consequences of a labour action, the safety of their members and the administration of justice in their communities. First Nations served by NAPS deserve the same levels of policing as any community across the country, and we will continue to negotiate for a new Tripartite Policing Agreement with the federal and provincial governments that meets the needs of our officers and ensures the safety of our communities.”

NAPS is the largest First Nations police service in Canada and the second largest First Nations police service in North America, employing more than 130 uniform officers and 30 civilians. Based in Thunder Bay, NAPS polices 35 communities.