School support workers from across Nova Scotia are planning to strike starting Monday, Nov 2 unless the province meets the union’s demands.
The Nova Scotia Board Council of Unions (NSSBCU), representing eight CUPE locals, announced the strike action via press release on Oct 28, where it says the Nova Scotian government failed to come to a deal that would deliver a $3.50 per hour wage increase for every worker by 2029. The last proposal from the province offered $1.62 over four years for most job classifications, according to the union.
The 48-hour strike notice will be officially issued on Friday, Oct 30 if the wage demand is not met. The workers are from the province’s Regional Centres for Education and the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP) school boards, totaling around 5,500 people according to the union’s own numbers. It would include early childhood educators, educational assistants, teaching assistants, support workers, library workers and custodians, among others.
According to the NSSBCU chair, the fault lies with the province.
“Government knows exactly what it will take to avoid a province-wide strike,” says chair Nelson Scott in the release. “We were hoping they would take the opportunity this weekend to come back to the bargaining table and settle this contract. Instead, they’re trying to wait us out.
“School support workers don’t want to be on strike,” Nelson continues. “We want to be in our schools, doing the work that students and families depend on. But our members have made it clear that they are prepared to stand together for a fair deal. Government has the resources and the responsibility to get this settled.”
