N.W.T. teachers, gov't sign deal for salary increase after nearly a year of bargaining

N.W.T. teachers will see their pay rise by 12 per cent over the next couple years.

On Wednesday, the N.W.T. government and the N.W.T. Teachers' Association announced they had finally reached a deal on a new collective agreement that's been accepted by both sides.

The announcement came after almost 11 months of negotiating.

Teachers will see their pay increase by five per cent, retroactive to Aug. 1, 2023, followed by an additional three per cent increase as of Aug. 1 of this year. On Aug. 1, 2025, their pay will increase by four per cent.

Teachers will also see their per diems increase for duty travel, and won't have to use sick leave if they're on medical travel.

The new agreement eliminates specific leave for people who have COVID-19, an issue that made it to court in 2023 before the territorial government decided to address it through collective bargaining.

That leave provision was originally created in a letter of understanding between the government, the teachers' association and the Union of Northern Workers at the height of the pandemic.

When the government initially tried to drop that provision, an arbitrator found the original agreement didn't specify an expiry date.

In a news release Wednesday, teachers' association president Matthew Miller described the new collective agreement as "a significant step" in retaining experienced teachers, as well as attracting new ones.