Legislation that takes away bargaining rights for 75,000 public sector workers is being frowned on by the president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.
The Nova Scotia government passed Bill 148 late last week and plans to impose a four-year wage package.
Shelley Morse says she’s surprised by the government’s actions.
“I think they have said ‘we want what we want and if you don’t agree, we will just legislate’ and they have the power to do that. But, in a democratic world, that’s not how it works.”
Morse feels the government has shown a lack of respect to the public service.
She says they are asking for better working conditions including a cap on class size, address learning needs of students and accessing resources in a more timely fashion.
Meanwhile, Premier Stephen McNeil says Bill 148 has not been proclaimed.
However, he says it will be if unions ask for arbitration.
“We have no choice. We just cannot afford the ruling and take the risk of an arbitrator completely throwing off track our journey back to fiscal health.”
McNeil says the government respects public servants but needs to work within its fiscal limits.
The teachers union and province will resume talks in January.
