Nova Scotia School Support Workers Set to Reach Legal Strike Position Monday
About 5,500 school support workers in Nova Scotia will be in a legal strike position on Monday after a conciliation meeting failed to resolve disputes over wages, benefits, safety, staffing, and training. A strike could begin as early as Wednesday, with some regions planning full school closures.
Approximately 5,500 school support workers across Nova Scotia will enter a legal strike position on Monday following the breakdown of contract negotiations. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has been negotiating for several months with the province's regional centres for education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial.
The union represents a wide range of staff, including educational program assistants, early childhood educators, bus drivers, janitors, library support specialists, and Black and Mi'kmaw student support workers. Core issues at the bargaining table include wages, benefits, school safety, staffing levels, and training.
A conciliation meeting held Friday failed to produce significant movement on these contract issues. Because 48 hours' notice is required before any job action can begin, the earliest possible date for a strike is Wednesday.
The potential impact of a strike varies by region. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education announced it would close schools altogether and shift to at-home and online learning if a strike occurs. Some pre-primary programs across the province would also be paused. Other areas are expected to rely on a combination of in-person, at-home, and online learning during a work stoppage.