The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective agreement, but the deal has yet to be ratified by union membership.
The agreement, announced on July 2, would span three years, from April 2023 to March 2026.
Workers will receive a salary increases of 10.5 per cent over that time, starting with a six per cent increase retroactive to April 1, 2023, followed by a 2.25 per cent hike effective April 1, 2024 and another 2.25 per cent increase as of April 1, 2025.
The compromise will include "recruitment and retention improvements for healthcare professionals," according to the release, as well as cultural leave for Indigenous employees.
The negotiations between the GNWT and UNW were mediated by Jacquie de Aguayo.
In April, de Aguayo determined that the two parties had reached an impasse in their efforts to reach a new collective agreement, noting that they were "too far apart on key issues to reach an agreement" at the time.
A couple of months later, a potential deal is on the table.
"The GNWT is appreciative of mediator de Aguayo’s professionalism and focus on resolution and thanks her for the efforts made to assist the GNWT and UNW," the July 2 news release stated.