YELLOWKNIFE (April 16, 2012) – The Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and the Government of the Northwest Territories have reached a tentative agreement for a new four-year collective agreement.

If ratified, the new collective agreement will be effective April 1, 2012 and will apply to the almost 4,000 UNW members employed by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) across the Northwest Territories, as well as employees with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission in the NWT and Nunavut.

“I’m happy that both teams showed such strong commitment to find solutions to the complexity of the issues.  I look forward to the opportunity to rebuild our working relationship,” says Todd Parsons, UNW President.

“We are very pleased that an agreement has been reached,” says Sheila Bassi-Kellett, Deputy Minister of Human Resources.  “The UNW and the GNWT have collaborated to address the interests of both parties, despite the challenges of the current fiscal environment.”

Both parties will be sending the tentative agreement for ratification.

For more information, contact:

Todd Parsons                                                           Sheila Bassi-Kellett
President                                                                  Deputy Minister
Union of Northern Workers                                       Department of Human Resources
Tel: (867) 873-5668                                                Tel: (867) 873-7187