Nova Scotia Schools Prepare for Potential CUPE Support Staff Strike on October 26
Contract negotiations between Nova Scotia's regional education centres and the Canadian Union of Public Employees are at a standstill, with a strike by school support staff scheduled to begin Monday, October 26. Regional centres have outlined varying contingency plans, including paused pre-primary programs in Halifax, remote learning shifts in Cape Breton Victoria, and suspended bus transportation in South Shore and Tri-County regions.
School regional centres across Nova Scotia have warned parents that a strike by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) support staff could begin on Monday, October 26, as contract negotiations remain at a standstill. CUPE has signaled its intent to commence strike action on that date unless a deal is reached.
The potential disruption threatens educational services for students requiring support from CUPE-represented assistants. In response, regional education centres issued contingency plans Thursday afternoon detailing how operations will be affected depending on the area.
In the Halifax region, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) stated that schools would pause pre-primary programs during a strike, but classes for all other grades will continue. The HRCE also confirmed that before and after-school care provided through the Excel program will continue during a potential strike.
The Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education plans to pause in-class learning entirely. Under its contingency plan, Grades Primary to 4 will shift to at-home learning, while Grades 5-12 will move to online learning.
In the South Shore region, the South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE) plans to keep Pre-primary to Grade 6 students in-person as long as it remains operationally feasible, though no bus transportation will be available. The Tri-County Regional Centre for Education outlined a similar approach, keeping Pre-primary to Grade 6 students in-person without bus transportation, while moving Grades 7 to 12 to online learning.
Other organizations operating within the province's education system include the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial. Students who rely on Tier 3 Learning Centre supports may also face disruptions if the strike proceeds.