Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 15/99) - Territory teachers are going to vote on a collective agreement that will shape their futures.

A tentative two-year agreement was hammered out after months of negotiating between the NWT Teachers Association and the GNWT. On Nov. 29, the 400 teachers working outside of Yellowknife will vote on the deal.

Fort Liard's Echo Dene school teacher, Pat May, after reviewing the terms of the new contract, stated simply: "Not enough."

"I think it's time the (GNWT) started showing a little respect to teachers. There's a lot of problems and they don't seem to want to discuss them."

May, a 27-year veteran of the North, said as time goes by teachers are asked to cover more material with less support.

"We are entrusted with the development of children but we're not given the resources or respect we deserve," said May.

"If they want permanence in their teaching staff, they have to make teaching in the North financially viable."

Fort Good Hope principal/teacher of Chief T'selihye school, Dudley Johnson, looked over the terms of the agreement and expressed many concerns.

He said the last three teachers he was prepared to hire looked at the wage and benefit packages here and walked away. He said the new agreement will do little to change the situation.

"They're offering us a five per cent raise but three years ago we took a 6.5 per cent roll-back. The proposed wage increase won't even cover the roll-back," said Johnson.

"The Yellowknife Education Districts 1 and 2 received a housing allowance. For us in the communities, heating fuel, food, and basically everything -- including rent -- is more expensive. So why were we not extended that courtesy?"

As principal, the new agreement will benefit Johnson because there is a principal's allowance of $3,000 plus $25 per student included. But he is also a teacher.

"I'm pleased with what was done with the principal's allowance, but I'm still concerned for our teachers because of the cost of living here," said Johnson.