In a move designed to give municipal government employees more flexibility with their careers, the city has added new initiatives to its employment arsenal.

In a deal announced in December, the city, along with the Yukon Employees Union (YEU) and Public Service Alliance of Canada Local Y023, signed a letter of understanding outlining two new initiatives at the city a term employee designation and an apprenticeship program.

According to the letter, the apprenticeship program will be starting up with the city's maintenance department this year.

'The City of Whitehorse will participate in the training of apprentices under the terms and conditions of the Apprenticeship Training Act of Yukon,' the letter states.

'Term employee means an employee who is hired pursuant to Article 23 for a specific task, project or position (to back fill due to a leave of absence or term or acting appointment of a permanent employee or to occupy a non-recurring term-specific position) for a term not to exceed two (2) calendar years or, for the duration of an apprenticeship program.

'Term employees receive the same terms and conditions as permanent employees. At the end of the term, the employment relationship is terminated unless the parties agree otherwise.'

Term employees who finish their two years in a new position are given the opportunity to return to their original job, if they choose, at the end of their term.

In a January interview, Tony Lomas, the city's human resources manager, said the term employee initiative was designed to give employees flexibility with their careers and promote lifelong learning.

He said term employee opportunity would allow workers in one sector of the city, such as Parks and Recreation, to actively work in another area, such as Information Technology.

'We want to grow our own and give opportunities to our employes and do something for the community,' he said.

'We promote lifelong learning in our culture,' he said.

He said while term positions would be open to interested members of the public, preference would be given to internal candidates.

The apprenticeship program, he added, would allow participants to gain skills while providing the city with potential new employees to join their team.

He said the city was also considering other programs including implementing a waste water training program which would give participants a city-recognized certificate in waste water management.

YEU president Laurie Butterworth said earlier this month while he did have some reservations about the term employee designation when it was proposed, he is now confident the position was positive and would not lead to contract-type employment at the city.

'We looked at it here for a while. There are some pretty big fences put around (the term employee designation),' he said.

'In the grand scheme of things, the term employee (designation) was really set up for this course taking.'

He said term employees would effectively be 'back filling' positions vacated by employees taking courses.