New benefits, pay increase: N.W.T. gov't ratifies contract with teachers

Around 460 teachers across the N.W.T. will see expanded benefits and a slight increase in pay over the next four years.

That's after a new contract between the territorial government and the N.W.T. Teachers Association which represents the teachers, most of whom work in schools outside Yellowknife was ratified on Thursday.

"I'm excited that some of the wellness and the working conditions for members have improved," said NWTTA President Fraser Oliver.

"A lot of studies have shown that when wellness improves for teachers it also has a direct impact on the wellness of students."

Negotiations began back in May and proceeded relatively quickly, with an agreement-in-principle reached in late June.

New benefits

The four-year agreement will see a slight salary increase: one per cent each year, in the third and fourth years of the contract.

"The financial increase in salary wasn't their main target," said Oliver.

"Teacher workload is the highest it's been in decades, so we made improvements in those areas."

According to the NWTTA's press release, the contract includes a Memorandum of Understanding specifying that the "GNWT and NWTTA will develop options for legislative change regarding hours of instruction."

Other changes include:

• Setting aside three days during the school year for teachers to prepare report cards and student assessments;
• An increase to two days of discretionary leave;
• An increase to $1300 on the Professional Allowance of the final two years;
• A change to medical travel arrangements; and
• A change to how longterm substitute teachers are paid.

"Looking at the amount of contact time teachers will have with students, it will put us more in line with the rest of Canada," said Oliver.