Yellowknife (Apr 07/03) - All that is left for teachers to do is vote.

The territorial government and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association reached a tentative agreement last week for the renewal of the collective agreement. The two-year contract was set to expire Aug. 31.

After "five days of rather intense negotiating" between the GNWT and the teachers' association, an agreement emerged, said David Murphy, NWT teachers' association president. Now the packages will be sent out to members for a vote.

"I can't say if the teachers will be happy," said Murphy."We are recommending they accept the agreement."

"I think this round went very well," said Sylvia Haener, GNWT director of labour relations and compensation.

The details won't be released until the agreement is ratified by both parties, said Murphy.

But there are few differences to the existing agreement, said Haener.

"In five days it's hard to come up with massive differences."

The teachers' association represents 450 territorial teachers including 10 at Ecole Allain St. Cyr in Yellowknife.

If teachers don't accept the agreement a mediator could step in or both parties could re-negotiate, said Murphy.

The mail-in ballots will be collected between April 21 and 25.