The approximately 2,200 government employees represented by the Yukon Employees Union have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement.

The new agreement will span from Jan. 1, 2007 until Dec. 31, 2009 and see a nine per cent pay increase over the time period.

In 2006, the average employee received approximately $59,400 annually. By the end of 2009, he or she will be earning $64,746.

Two concessions were made by the bargaining unit to receive the variety of increases.

Benefits premiums for all employees will rise by five per cent to 15 per cent, which will result in a larger deduction on each paycheque by approximately $7 a month.

A cap of 180 banked sick days has also been put into effect.

The previous ability to bank sick days indefinitely created a huge liability for the government, said Megan Slobodin, the government's director of staff relations.

The elimination of days above the 180 mark has affected approximately 250 employees, said Slobodin.

Other improvements in the agreement include an increase of standby pay to the equivalent of two hours' pay for every hour in an eight-hour period; a one per cent increase in acting pay for individuals in those positions as well as credit if appointed to the job permanently; overtime for work-related phone calls during off-hours; compassionate care leave without pay for up to eight weeks; and benefits for auxiliary on-call employees.

The contract was reached in March before the Yukon Employees Union/Public Service Alliance of Canada began to travel to communities in April to hold ratification and vote meetings.

The bargaining unit unanimously recommended acceptance of the agreement.

The ballots were counted last Saturday after a week of voting.

'The parties worked hard to come to this agreement,' said Glenn Hart, minister responsible for the Public Service Commission.

'We are pleased to be moving forward in a spirit of co-operation.'

Union president Laurie Butterworth was unavailable today to comment on the agreement.