Compensation for potentially missed or delayed allowances, benefits and pay errors for Government of the Northwest Territories – Union of Northern Workers Employees

On December 15, 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) have reached an agreement to resolve a grievance regarding pay and benefits. The grievance, #17-P—02163, addresses potentially missed or delayed allowances, benefits and pay errors between July 15, 2017 and December 15, 2023, was filed on August 15, 2017.  As such, GNWT employees who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to submit a claim.

The GNWT and the UNW agree that all employees should be paid accurately and on time. The GNWT is committed to compensating employee’s accurately and in a timely manner. The GNWT ensures employees have access to and are encouraged to review their pay stubs in HRIS a few days before pay is issued.  All employees are encouraged to do so and to bring any potential errors or omissions to their immediate supervisor’s attention and/or contact the HRHelpDesk at HRHelpDesk@gov.nt.ca or by phone 1-866-475-8162.

Individual incidents raised in the grievance have been resolved and the GNWT is working to ensure that these issues are fixed for the long term.

Recognizing the burden that these delays may have had on GNWT employees who are UNW members the GNWT will provide $100 compensation for any instance of missed/delayed payment.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must have been a GNWT employee and a member of the Union of Northern Workers between July 15, 2017 and December 15, 2023.
• You must have notified the GNWT within four weeks from the time you should have received compensation.
• Between July 15, 2017 and December 15, 2023 you missed:

1. 20% or more of their gross pay, per pay period due to Employer error for more than five (5) working days after the pay date upon which the employee should have received pay.
2. 20% or more of their overtime compensation for more than six (6) weeks following the date upon which the employee submitted the claim for overtime; or
3. $450 or more in compensation for an Allowance for more than six (6) weeks following the date upon which the employee submitted the claim for the allowance.
4. Compensation for benefit for more than eight (8) weeks following the date upon which the employee submitted the claim for the benefit.

How to Apply:

• Application deadline is April 30, 2024.
• Fill the form available here.
• Submit the completed form to Labour Relations via email to uche_iwuji@gov.nt.ca with your name, employee number and department as subject and a brief description of the incident.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I submit a claim for an incident that occurred this current year?

Answer: No, eligibility is for incidents between July 15, 2017 and December 15, 2023.

2. What documentation should accompany my claim, if any?

Answer: Any emails, receipts, invoices or documentation that provides proof to your claim

3. How do I submit my claim?

Answer:

You can submit your claim directly to Labour Relations in an email to uche_iwuji@gov.nt.ca with your name, employee number and department as subject and a brief description of the incident.

4. Can I submit a claim if I no longer work for the GNWT but missed compensation between July 15^th 2017 and December 15^th 2023?

Answer: 

Yes, you can, if you were a GNWT employee and a member of the UNW bargaining Unit.

5. If eligible, how much damage am I expected to receive?

Answer:

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be paid $100 damage per Incident.

6. Due to missed compensation, I incurred out-of-pocket expenses beyond $100, will I be compensated for the actual out-of-pocket expenses?

Answer:

Yes - If you have receipts/proof demonstrating you incurred expenses in excess of $100 due to the missed compensation for Pay, Overtime, or an Allowance, or reimbursement for a Benefit, you will not receive compensation $100 as per the Complaint Process. You will instead have your claim evaluated for reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses. Please provide the Employer (Labour Relations via email uche_iwuji@gov.nt.ca ), copying the Union (Service Administration Assistant via email to saa@unw.ca) with records by April 30, 2024 showing that the delayed compensation directly resulted in actual out-of-pocket expenses (“Expenses”), defined as:

1. 1. 1. actual interest charges related to late or missed payments from credit cards, lines of credit, personal loans, or car loans; or
      2. NSF (not sufficient funds) charges and other financial penalty charges resulting from late or missed payments for household utilities, condo fees, mortgages and other ongoing monthly financial commitment.

7. Will the damage payment be taxable?

Answer:

No, any payments made to Employee’s under the Complaint Process set out in this section will be treated as non-taxable damages.

8. I have more than one incident that meets the eligibility criteria, can I submit more than one complaint? 

Answer:

Yes, you can submit more than one complaint. Each time an Employee meets the requirements will be referred to as a single Incident.

9. How will my complaint be assessed?

Answer:

The GNWT Finance and HR teams will assess complaints to determine if compensation for Pay, Overtime, or an Allowance or reimbursement for a Benefit was missed for the time period(s) indicated on the Complaint. If no Pay, Allowance or reimbursement for a Benefit is determined to have been missed for the specified time period, no damages will be provided.

10. When will damages be paid out to those eligible? 

Answer:

Those eligible will receive damage payments following the verification until October 18^th 2024.