Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 22/99) - The union representing the city's public school board teachers says a recent action by the board concerning retroactive payments from their members violates a recently-concluded collective agreement and the Canadian Labour Code.

Northwest Territories Teachers Association (NWTTA) president Pat Thomas said her members had no idea the board was clawing back funds until they opened their paycheques last Friday.

"Our members were given absolutely no notice," she said. "To me, that is very insensitive -- people finding out the first paycheque after Christmas with no warning."

"It will lower morale when we all should be working on improving morale."

Thomas said retroactive payments were never discussed when the recent agreement, ratified last fall and set to last until August of 1999, was negotiated.

The agreement is retroactive until Sept. 1, 1997, she said.

Yk Education District No. 1 board chair Dan Schofield said he has received no official communication from Thomas or any other association representative.

He said he learned of the association's anger through the media and by discussions with rank and file teachers in recent days.

"Two negotiating teams came together and two teams walked away with an agreement," he said. "Now the agreement is being implemented in a manner sensitive to the employee situation."

A copy of the notice given to the board's NWTTA members, obtained by the xxxYellowknifer, is signed by the board's secretary treasurer Grant Rice.

Board administration staff said media calls to Rice had to be referred to board superintendent Ken Woodley. He could not be reached for comment as of press time.

"To adhere to the changes in the new agreement, adjustments have been calculated and will begin on the Jan. 15th payroll," Rice said in his letter.

It also mentions clawbacks for Heritage Day, travel allowances, benefit premiums for part-time employees, department head allowances, administrative allowances and maternity leave benefits. It also provides a section number from the agreement beside each area mentioned.

"The NWTTA takes strong exception, not only to the actions, but to the way in which the employer conveyed their intent of repayments and reimbursements," Thomas said in a written statement.

She said the NWTTA is considering legal action over the move by the board and has sent a letter to the board condemning the action.