Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Friday, February 19, 2007

HAY RIVER RESERVE - Workers at Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve have ratified an agreement that could end a lengthy labour dispute.

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, said the workers voted on Feb. 14.

Citing union policy, Parsons declined to release the exact numbers voting for or against the deal.

"I could say it was a strong endorsement," he said.

Nineteen workers were involved in the dispute at the NWT's only addictions treatment centre on Oct. 24, but only 13 still remain off work. Four others returned to work, while two left for other jobs.

Parsons said he is not surprised the tentative agreement was ratified by the striking workers.

The board of directors of Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre was to meet Friday to discuss ratifying the deal.

Parsons expects the centre will ratify the deal, and predicted the workers will likely return to work on Feb. 26.

Calls to the treatment centre for comment were unreturned.

The tentative four-year contract is retroactive to April 1, 2006.

It will give workers retroactive pay raises of $4 to $12 an hour depending on job classification, and pay hikes of three per cent a year in each of the next three years. All workers will also get a $1,500 signing bonus.

The workers have been without a new contract since 2003.