Potential CUPE Strike Threatens Education for Nova Scotia Students with Disabilities
A looming strike by 5,500 school support workers in Nova Scotia could leave students with disabilities without essential one-on-one assistance as early as October 26, 2026. Parents fear their children will be excluded from classrooms or face severely limited attendance.
A potential strike involving 5,500 Nova Scotia school support workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) threatens to disrupt education for students with disabilities who rely on daily one-on-one assistance. If ongoing contract negotiations fail, union members could enter a legal strike position on October 26, 2026.
CUPE represents educational program assistants (EPAs), early childhood educators, bus drivers, custodians, and student support workers across the province. For families of children with disabilities, the prospect of a work stoppage raises immediate concerns about exclusion from school or drastically reduced access to education.
Heather Rose said her son Aidan, who has Down syndrome, may be forced to stay home or attend school for only 30 minutes a day if a strike occurs because his school cannot provide the necessary one-on-one support. Karen Morash noted that her daughter Janelle, who is on the autism spectrum, relies on an EPA for all-day support, including bathroom assistance, which may not be available during a walkout.
Parents have expressed concern that they may need to take leave from work to act as caregivers at school if support staff are unavailable. They also warn of emotional distress and trauma for students who are separated from their peers and teachers.
Responses from regional education centres vary. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education plans to close schools altogether in the event of a strike, shifting to at-home and online learning. Other regions are attempting to accommodate specific needs, though parents argue this approach violates inclusive education principles.
The current situation echoes the 2023 Halifax school staff strike, during which many students with disabilities were shut out of school for five weeks.
Education Minister Brendan Maguire stated that while the province respects CUPE's rights under the Trade Union Act, it also respects students' right to equal education under the Education Act and Human Rights Act.