Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 23, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Teachers employed by the GNWT have voted to accept a new tentative contract.

An overwhelming 94.5 per cent of teachers accepted the agreement in a ratification vote that drew a 73 per cent turnout.

Some 530 teachers are members of the GNWT Bargaining Unit with the NWT Teachers' Association (NWTTA). They work at schools outside Yellowknife in addition to Ecole Allain St. Cyr in the capital city.

Negotiations began in February and culminated in a tentative agreement on May 22.

Highlights of the four-year contract include salary increases of 18.96 per cent compounded over four years, an average increase of 14.9 per cent in Northern allowances, higher principal allowance, increases to administrative and professional allowances, and more money in professional development for aboriginal language proficiency.

Improvements were also made in substitute teachers' pay and special leave, among other items.

The association announced voting results on June 17.

NWTTA president Amanda Mallon was pleased with both the collective agreement and the strong support by teachers.

"I think this collective agreement is going to help with retention," she said, adding it should also help attract new teachers to the NWT.

Mallon noted there is a lot of competition for teachers across the country, and the new agreement will keep teachers' salaries in the NWT among the highest in Canada.

"I think this gives us a good competitive edge," she said.

Mallon said the government recognized the need to retain good quality teachers.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty could not comment, as the agreement had not yet been officially ratified by the government.

The tentative agreement will be reviewed by the government's Financial Management Board sometime next month.

The agreement's conclusion is perhaps the final milestone of Mallon's term as president, which ends this month.

"It's a very good way to go out the door," she said.

David Reid, currently vice-principal of Hay River's Diamond Jenness Secondary School, will become president July 1.

The GNWT Bargaining Unit is one of three for the association.

The Yellowknife Catholic schools' bargaining unit recently concluded a new contract agreement as well. Yellowknife public schools are to begin their negotiations next year.