NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
GNWT and Northwest Territories Teachers' Association Reach Collective Agreement

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association (NWTTA) are pleased to announce that they have ratified a new collective agreement.

Effective August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2026, the agreement includes a retroactive salary increase of 5.0 per cent, and an additional 3.0 per cent increase on August 1, 2024 and 4.0 per cent effective August 1, 2025. As part of the agreement, parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide the practice in the case of Teacher absence.

Negotiations for a new collective agreement began on April 18, 2023 and ended on March 1, 2024 when both sides reached a tentative agreement. Teachers employed by the GNWT voted to accept the agreement on April 17, 2024. The GNWT's Financial Management Board ratified the agreement on April 18, 2024.

Quotes

"The new collective agreement with the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association underscores our commitment to supporting our educators and enhancing the quality of education in the Northwest Territories. It recognizes the invaluable contributions of our teachers and aims to create a more stable and supportive environment for them. We believe this partnership will lead to improved educational outcomes for our students and a stronger future for our community."

- Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance

"This collaborative effort to reach an agreement guarantees stability and security for NWT educators, enabling them to support our shared goal of improving student learning in the territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories values the dedication of NWT educational staff and remains committed to providing them with the supports they need to thrive in their important roles. By reaching a fair agreement, this deal will benefit educators and all stakeholders in the territory's education system."

- Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

"The recent ratification between the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the Government of the Northwest Territories marks a significant step towards addressing the pressing need for a supportive agreement that fosters both the retention of experienced teachers and the attraction of new educators to the North. This agreement exemplifies a proactive approach towards addressing challenges in education, prioritizing the modernization of professional development to equip teachers with the necessary tools to effectively meet the diverse needs of students and foster a thriving learning environment across the Northwest Territories."

- Matthew Miller, NWTTA President

Quick facts

Other elements of the collective agreement include:

• Modernization of the Professional Development (PD) Article 16. Parties worked hard to streamline for more effective administration.
• An increase to Duty Travel per diem rates in line with the posted Treasury Boards rates, and administration aligned with the rules of the GNWT Financial Administration Manual.
• A Medical Travel time code specific to medical travel so NWTTA members no longer draw down their sick leave banks.
• An MOU on Ultimate Removal Assistance for parties to review the established rates by community.
• Deleting the COVID-19 Leave LOU which provided for specific leave related to the virus.

Related Links
Collective Agreement Between the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the Minister Responsible for the Public Service Act (Expired July 31, 2023)