Government of the Northwest Territories

Collective Bargaining

Bargaining Overview - NWTTA

What is collective bargaining, and how does it work?

Collective bargaining is the process through which the employer and the union, as the representative of applicable employees, meet to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment.

A collective agreement is a labour contract between an employer and a union, negotiated through collective bargaining and signed off by both parties.

The existing Collective Agreement between the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association and the Minister Responsible for the Public Service expires on July 31, 2020.

You can view the current NWTTA collective agreement online.

Who decides when collective bargaining takes place for the next collective agreement?

Under the Northwest Territories’ Public Service Act, either party can decide when they want bargaining to begin. To start the process, either the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) or the GNWT serves notice to the other party.  Once notice has been served the parties commence negotiating within 60 days, or a later date as agreed upon by both parties.

How does collective bargaining work?

Each party from the negotiations appoints a lead negotiator and a bargaining team. Each party develops a proposal that outlines what they hope to achieve during negotiations. The parties then meet in person, exchange proposals, review and discuss the individual elements of each party’s proposal. This can be a very time-consuming process, as each party requires time to consider whether each element of the other party’s proposal can be agreed to.  During negotiations, each party may choose to withdraw or amend elements of their proposal, as well as to agree to proposals from the other party. When agreement is reached on each item, it is signed off by both parties.

How many people does NWTTA collective bargaining affect?

As of March 31, 2018, there were 486 members of the NWTTA employed by the GNWT

What are the GNWT’s goals for collective bargaining?

The GNWT recognizes that teaching in the Northwest Territories can be both a challenging and rewarding career which provides teachers with the opportunity for an adventure in a spectacular part of Canada. Our schools are great places to work and our communities are great places to live. We recognize that our most important resource is our young people and teachers are in a very unique position to help develop the full potential of our students.

Our overall goal is to maintain an efficient, effective, and sustainable public service while being fiscally responsible.

What should NWTTA members expect as a result of the next round of negotiations?

It is not possible to predict the outcome future negotiations. However, in developing proposals, the GNWT takes into consideration a number of factors including the economic and fiscal environments. The ultimate goal is to reach an agreement that invests in our teachers and public service alike while remaining fiscally responsible to the communities we serve.