Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 22/99) - Parents are going to be watching the outcome of the Nov. 29 teachers' vote with bated breath.

NWT teachers must decide whether to accept a two-year collective agreement recommended to them by the NWT Teachers' Association and the GNWT after months of negotiating.

After the details were announced, the deal was described by one educator as "not enough" and by another as a "band-aid."

If the agreement is voted down, action will be initiated and all NWT teachers outside of Yellowknife may end up on picket lines. That has parents worried.

"As a parent, I'm not happy with the teaching level in the territory right now. I think the teachers should be thinking about the kids," said Hay River parent of four, Deb Stanley.

Stanley added that her son is going to graduate this year and she doesn't want to see his big day postponed.

"If teachers go on strike, they're not doing what's in the best interest of their students. It's a difficult job teaching in Northern communities, but it's not worth striking over," said Stanley.

For Lutsel K'e parent Evelyn Marlowe, a disruption of the school year means the community's working mothers will have to decide what to do with their kids who would otherwise be attending school.

"If the teachers do go on strike, we won't know how long they'll be off. It's difficult for parents to plan for that," said Marlowe.

"At the very least, it would throw the students off balance."

Norman Wells resident Pat McWilliam has two kids, one in Grade 4 and the other in Grade 8. While concerned about their education, she also sympathizes with the teachers.

McWilliam points out that the new agreement still doesn't have a housing subsidy included in the package, nor a vacation allowance. She also said that while the principal's allowance offered in the package seems generous, the five per cent raise being recommended for teachers isn't enough.

"I'm concerned about my children losing time in school but I'm also aware that teachers have serious issues that need to be addressed," said McWilliam.

"The cost of living here is very high and teachers get very few perks. They don't get a housing subsidy and in Norman Wells, a one-bedroom apartment can rent for $900 a month. I think that will deter teachers from coming here."

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen is keeping an eye on the situation, both as a parent and as a politician.

"Do I hope that job action can be avoided --absolutely. But at the same time it's the teachers' vote and it's their package. They have to be happy with it," said Groenewegen.

"My hope is that the government has put something substantial on the table for them. We have a shortage of quality educators in the North and we have to do what we can to keep the teachers we have here."