The city's nurses have not been satisfied with the Whitehorse hospital's contract offers, so a mediator is being called in.

The nurse's bargaining group, known as the Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH) group, met with employers April 3 and 4.

A number of less substantial issues were resolved but, by the end of the day on the 4th, it became evident the parties are very far apart on the wage issue and unable to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement without assistance.

Bargaining has broken off, and the parties are preparing to make a request to the federal Minister of Labour asking for the appointment of a conciliator.

The nurses are represented by the Professional Institute of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, PSAC.

Under governing labour laws, a conciliator officer can be appointed by the minister to help the parties settle outstanding issues.

Jim Bart, the representative of the bargaining team, said the team wants a solution arrived at voluntarily and willingly by both parties, with or without assistance.

"We will participate in a conciliation process and do all possible to arrive at a positive outcome and one that will meet the membership's approval," he said.

"We fully expect the employer to do likewise."

For this to happen, Bart said, the employer must "demonstrate a greater appreciation of the gravity of the situation, especially in terms of recruitment and retention, and considerably more flexibility in dealing with those issues than has been shown to date."

Conciliation has yet to be scheduled.