Memorandums of Understanding 15 & 16
The Government of Nunavut (GN) and the Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) recently signed new Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) 15 and 16 for accredited healthcare professionals (Group 5) in the territory.
The MOUs provide new incentives to attract and retain highly skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals to Nunavut. They are in effect until August 1, 2025.
Who is Eligible?
MOU 15 and 16 apply to a wide range of health care positions including nurses, lab technicians, therapists, and more. A list of professions eligible professions can be found here:
What are the Benefits of MOUs 15 and 16?
Financial Incentives
Tiered Allowance
Employees hired into difficult-to-fill positions receive hourly wage premiums. This tiered allowance is added on top of salary and other allowances. It does not apply to vacation time or other leave.
Specified roles are eligible for tiered allowance: Supervisor Health Programs (SHP), Community Health Nurse (CHN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Public Health Nurse (PHN), Psychiatric Nurse, Mental Health Consultant , and Midwife.
For Full-time (Indeterminate) and Job Share Employees: |
For Casual Employees: | ||
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Tier One: $10/hr allowance for filling specific roles identified above.
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Tier Two: $15/hr allowance for the same roles, in designated difficult-to-fill communities: Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Gjoa Haven, Grise Fiord, Igloolik, Kinngait, Kugluktuk, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Sanikiluaq, Whale Cove.
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Tier One: $10/hr allowance for short-term contracts (minimum 4-weeks) in designated difficult-to-fill communities for positions identified above.
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Tier Two: $10/hr allowance for seasonal contracts (minimum 4-weeks) during the peak summer period (2nd Sunday in June – 2nd Sunday in September) or during peak winter holiday period (3rd Sunday in December – 2nd Sunday in January) with a requirement to work either December 25th or January 1st. |
Recruitment and Retention (R&R)
Employees are eligible for the following bonuses if they remain in their position for at least two years. They apply to eligible employees who are full-time (indeterminate) or job sharing, as well as those who have not received a recruitment and retention bonus in the last year. For Job Share employees, the amounts are prorated on regular hours worked.
Eligible positions:
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Bonus structure:
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Please note that new hires under Group 5 nursing will receive the recruitment and retention bonuses as per MOU #8:
- $5,000 initially
- $5,000 at 18 months of employment
- $10,000 at 30 months of employment
These MOU #8 bonuses are provided prior to being eligible for the recruitment and retention bonus listed above (MOU #15).
Compensation for Prior Experience
- Recognition of Previous Experience: Health Care Professionals receive one pay level increase for every year of completed relevant previous experience.
Special Allowances
- Annual Special Allowance: An annual special allowance for nurses in nursing positions, which ranges from $9,000 to $19,500 based on the level of staffing at Community Health Centres.
- Duty Travel Allowances: Casual employees who need to travel to and from communities receive paid travel days, per diems, mileage up to a maximum of three days; and reimbursement for baggage up to a maximum of 3 bags each.
Educational Supports
- Return of Service (ROS) Program: The GN offers one year of tuition in exchange for one year of full-time service in a Group 5 position within the territory, up to a maximum of 4 years. Nunavut Inuit will be given priority.
- The Government of Nunavut FANS Loan Forgiveness Program: Candidates who accessed FANS student loans may be eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $5,000 annually, for up to five years, to a maximum of $25,000.
Work-life Balance
- Job Sharing: Two or more employees can split the responsibilities of one full-time job ( fly in/fly out model), providing greater flexibility to their work schedules. You can enter a job share without a designated partner; the other half of the job will be posted for you. Job Share rotations can range from 4 weeks to greater than 3 months.
- Friends and Family Benefit: The GN helps cover some of the costs for having friends and family visit. This includes one paid return flight for one family member or friend per year from gateway cities (Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Yellowknife), or any community in Nunavut, and temporary accommodation for overnight stops due to flight schedules. This is for Group 5 Health Care Professionals who are scheduled to work over the summer or during Christmas holidays.
Additional Benefits Offered Outside the MOU15 and 16
- Nunavut Northern Allowance: The northern allowance ranges from $16,008 to $43,588 and is intended to balance out the higher cost of living in Nunavut compared to bigger southern cities.
- Relocation assistance: All employees except casual employees are entitled to relocation assistance when moving to a new community for work with the GN, provided they are not receiving relocation assistance from another source.
- Bilingual Bonus: Employees who do not have translation/interpretation duties and who are required to use two (2) or more official languages of NU in their work (and who demonstrate proficiency in the required languages) receive a bilingual bonus of $1,500 per year.
- Special Clinical Preparation Benefits: Employees with at least six months of special preparation approved by the Employer, who use this training within four years prior to employment, receive an additional $40 per month.
- Employees may also qualify for one of the payments in the following three categories:
- Certification Courses: Registered Nurses with Canadian Healthcare Association or Canadian Nurses Association certification, employed in a relevant role, receive an additional $25 per month.
- University Preparation: Employees who have completed an accredited one-year university course or a Midwifery course, and are employed in a relevant capacity, receive an additional $75 per month.
- Advanced Degrees: Employees with a baccalaureate or higher degree approved by the Deputy Head receive an additional $125 per month.
- Professional License Reimbursement (nurses only): Newly graduated nurses, upon obtaining registration, will receive the applicable Registered Nurse pay rate retroactively from the date of their registration exam.
- Continuous Service Bonus (for non-nurse employees): Applies to non-nurse employees not covered by MOU 8 and who are on staff as of December 1 each year with at least three years of continuous service. Bonus schedule:
- 3-5 years: $1,000
- 6-10 years: $2,000
- 11-15 years: $3,000
- 16-20 years: $4,000
- 21+ years: $5,000
- Discretionary Leave: Employees regularly working outside the hours of 8 am-5 pm are eligible for four days of special leave credits.
- Night Shift Food: Employees will receive food when working a 12-hour shift.
Overtime: Overtime worked after a 12-hour shift is paid at double time.
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For more information on benefits and eligible positions, read MOU 15 and 16 here: