'Relatively painless' process
Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 30/01) - Support staff for Yellowknife Catholic Schools are one step closer to signing a new collective agreement.
The school board and Union of Northern Workers Local 30 issued a joint press release Monday, May 28 announcing that a tentative agreement had been reached between board officials and union representatives over the weekend.
Both sides remain mum on the particulars of the agreement, but are optimistic that union members will ratify it.
"They are probably going to vote on it later on today," said Barbara Wyness, research and public relations officer for the Union of Northern Workers, Tuesday afternoon.
The close to 50 support staff workers at Yellowknife Catholic Schools include classroom assistants, secretaries, librarians technicians, maintenance workers, and all other non-teaching staff.
The current two-year agreement was scheduled to expire June 30.
According to Larry Purcka, chairperson for the Yellowknife Catholic school board, reaching the newest agreement has been relatively painless for both sides.
"The approach we had taken was non-adversarial," said Purcka.
"We had a very non-threatening type of meeting. It was very collaborative."
