WHITEHORSE, YT – The President of the Yukon Association of Education Professionals, Ted Hupé, says the YAEP has accepted the offer for a new contract for Yukon’s Educators that was recently proposed by a conciliation board, following a deadlock in negotiations with the Yukon Government this fall.
That offer that’s been accepted entails a 14.15% wage increase over three year’s for Educators, including a 8.15% increase for this school year, a 10% wage increase for Teachers on Call, and a 7% increase for Education Assistants. It also includes the addition of rural retention allowances.
“Yes, we’ve got an increase. Yes, we’ve got a 3-year agreement. But, other jurisdictions are going to be on that same cycle and so we’re not going to be looking that much more attractive than other jurisdictions. It’s a status quo sort of amount in terms of addressing inflation and the cost of living” – Ted Hupé, YAEP President
Hupé adds, while the new terms will be enough to keep teacher’s pay on par with the rising cost of living, the new contract doesn’t go far enough to address the fact other education systems in other jurisdictions have also offered pay increases. He says the issue of a teacher shortage, and how the Yukon will make itself more attractive to prospective educators, will persist for years to come.
“One thing that we’re not addressing is the competitive nature of interjurisdictional competition for teachers, and that’s going to grow. We’ll probably be having this discussion in 3 years, looking at the shortage, because this shortage is projected to be a 10-year shortage.” – Ted Hupé, YAEP President
Hupé adds, the YAEP will continue to press the issue of recruitment and retention challenges in the education system for as long as it remains a reality.
The Yukon Government had accepted the proposed terms of collective agreement earlier this week, on the condition that the YAEP does not initiate job action.
