NNSL (Jan 13/97) - The Northwest Territories Teachers' Association will challenge the Public Service Act in court.

A Jan. 9 meeting between lawyers for the teachers and territorial government failed to resolve a dispute over a new contract.

"We will be proceeding with challenges to the legislation but we're not going to release (details) until we file in court," said Pat Thomas (left), the association's president.

She is uncertain when the challenges will be filed.

In December, the government asked the teachers to vote on a final offer that included: increasing wages by $5,400 then cutting them by 6.25 per cent; deleting the vacation travel assistance and settlement allowance while replacing them with a Northern allowance; and reducing ultimate removal expenditures.

About 1,000 teachers from across the North, except for Yellowknife, overwhelmingly rejected the offer. But with changes to the Public Service Act last year, the government can impose a contract anyway. The teachers are challenging this point.

"We feel we're still operating under our old contract," Thomas said. "But there is a difference of opinion."

Government representatives couldn't be reached for comment.