Iqaluit (Dec 11/06) - It will be four more years before the city of Iqaluit has to worry about a strike by its workers.

The city and the Nunavut Employees Union signed a deal last week that means a 13 per cent pay raise over four years for 120 municipal workers.

"We often hear words of support, but it is nice to see that we have actually seen action," said Doug Workman, president of the Nunavut Employees Union.

"We are very pleased with the way the contract was negotiated," said Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik.

The pay raise is indexed over four years. For the first three years of the contract, workers will see a three per cent increase. In year four, the jump climbs to four per cent.

Four years of prospective labour peace has Workman beaming.

"It passed with an overwhelming vote. A four-year agreement, that is unusual. We have 35 collective agreements and that doesn't usually happen," said Workman.

One concession the union agreed to is to limit vacation travel assistance. There is now an annual cap of $2,200 for vacation travel.

The contract with the city ran out on June 30.

Union officials now move on to their negotiations with the Government of Nunavut.

"This is quite a bit more than they are offering at the GN," said Workman.

Contract negotiations with the GN start next week.