YELLOWNIFE (May 4, 2012) -- The Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association and the Government of the Northwest Territories have reached a tentative collective agreement.  Both parties are recommending ratification of the agreement to their principals.

“I am pleased that a tentative agreement between the NWT Teachers’ Association and the GNWT has been reached, especially in these trying economic times,” says David Reid, President of the NWT Teachers’ Association. “The NWTTA listened to what its members had to say and then worked with the employer to negotiate a fair and reasonable agreement that both parties could agree to.”

“We are very pleased that an agreement has been reached,” says Sharilyn Alexander, Acting Deputy Minister of Human Resources.  “The NWT Teachers’ Association and the GNWT have worked together to develop a collective agreement that supports our employees and provides stability for the delivery of educational programs across the NWT.”

The current collective agreement between the NWT Teachers’ Association and the GNWT expires on August 31, 2012. If ratified, the new agreement will run for four years, effective September 1, 2012, and will apply to approximately 490 teachers across the NWT.

Ratification is expected to be complete by the end of May 2012.  Details of the tentative agreement will not be publicly released until the ratification process is completed.

For further information, please contact:

David Reid                                         Sharilyn Alexander
President                                           Acting Deputy Minister
NWT Teachers’ Association                Department of Human Resources, GNWT
(867) 873-8501                                (867) 873-7187