Teachers, GN strike new deal

IQALUIT — The Federation of Nunavut Teachers and the territorial government have struck another tentative wage deal.

The new tentative collective agreement includes a 9 per cent wage increase over a three-year period.

Beefed up northern allowances are also included in the tentative collective agreement. If ratified, Nunavut teachers can expect their allowances to increase by 25 per cent on average. A new one-time professional allowance and an enhanced professional development program are also included.

It is not clear whether the average 25 per cent increase to the northern allowances includes the 15 per cent increase Finance Minister Kelvin Ng recently announced for all government employees.

Earlier this year, teachers rejected another tentative deal that offered an 8.5-per-cent wage hike over three years, a 10-per-cent boost to northern allowances and other improvements.

The union’s executive originally recommended that teachers ratify that deal. It pulled its support after the territory announced new benefits for nurses.

The deal was rejected by 68 per cent of teachers who cast ballots.

The ratification process for the latest tentative deal is scheduled to finish on March 17.