QEC’s proposed four-year deal includes 18% wage increase, but final approval is not publicly confirmed
A tentative collective agreement between Qulliq Energy Corporation and the Nunavut Employees Union sets out wage increases totalling 18% from 2025 through 2028, plus new Inuktut-language allowances and other benefits. The union’s June ratification material says both sides must ratify; Atiilu did not find a current primary-source notice confirming final employer approval or signing.
What happened
QEC and the NEU/PSAC bargaining teams reached a tentative agreement on May 13, 2026. The union’s ratification package proposes a 12% increase effective January 1, 2025, followed by 2% increases on January 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028. It describes the nominal increase as 18%, or 18.86% compounded, with retroactivity for eligible members who worked during the agreement period. The proposed agreement would expire December 31, 2028. Sourceneu.ca↗
Why it matters
QEC operates Nunavut’s electricity system, and the agreement concerns the pay and working conditions of its unionized workforce. The package also proposes Inuktut-language allowances of up to $6,000 annually, aligned location allowances with the Government of Nunavut, a larger continuous-service bonus, and a third paid day for Inuit cultural pursuits. The documents do not state the agreement’s total cost or any effect on electricity rates; those outcomes should not be assumed. Sourceneu.ca↗
What happens next
QEC and the NEU should publicly confirm whether their respective ratification processes are complete and when the agreement is signed. A final collective agreement should also establish the precise implementation and retroactive-pay arrangements. Until then, this remains a proposed agreement rather than a confirmed completed contract.
Important details
The memorandum would introduce an Inuktut Language Allowance effective January 1, 2027: $2,000 annually for speaking proficiency, $3,000 for speaking, reading and writing, and $6,000 for expert-level proficiency and specified translation or interpretation work. It also adds the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a designated paid holiday and expands family-abuse leave and bereavement provisions. Sourceneu.ca↗
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