Photo: Nunavut makes peace with the teachers

Robin Langill, the president of the Nunavut Teachers’ Association, had much to smile about Feb. 17, when he signed a new wage deal with Hunter Tootoo, the minister of Human Resources. The four-year collective agreement, which is retroactive to July 1, 2009 and expires June 30, 2013, gives teachers a 4.5 per cent pay increase for the first year, increases of 2 per cent in the two following years, and 2.5 per cent in the final year. Northern allowance payments are held at April 1, 2010 levels and language allowances are unchanged. Langill said the teachers’ union estimates the deal will cost the GN between $17 million and $22 million over the life of the agreement. The two sides also agree to create an anti-violence committee to work on ways of reducing violence in schools. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)