The union that represents more than 5,500 school support workers across the province has reached a tentative agreement with its employers and government.
In a social media post Friday night, CUPE Local 955 says, “We got a deal! Rallies are cancelled.”
This comes about nine hours after the council of unions filed a strike notice when talks failed overnight Thursday.
Rallies were planned across the province on Saturday before a strike Monday morning.
In a memo to members Friday night, obtained by Acadia News, the council of unions says the agreement addresses concerns and all members of the bargaining committee recommended it “full-heartedly”.
In a statement, Premier Tim Houston stated that he is pleased that a tentative agreement was reached, “Both parties came back together to negotiate with the shared goal of reaching a fair deal and preventing any impacts to students, their families, and all staff in our school system.”
He added that both sides listened and found a way forward.
“CUPE is now taking this tentative agreement back to their members with a recommendation to vote yes,” Houston said.
Details will be disclosed to members in the coming days, as well as the voting process.
Positions that are affected include early childhood educators, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers.
Local leaders says workers will be off the job on Monday if the government does not agree $3.50/hour increase for all members by 2029 this weekend.
“We came back to the bargaining table anticipating that government would make meaningful changes to their final offer,” said President of the Council of Unions Nelson Scott. “Ultimately, what they brought us does not get most members to $3.50 by 2030, let alone by 2029.”
Talks went until early morning hours on Friday. CUPE said the employers and government revealed their wage offer of 9.86% of five years, which amounts to $2.22 over that amount of tie for those who would receive the least.
That is $1 short of what the union feels members deserve.
The employer gave the NSSBCU the option of a two-year and four-year deal.
“Those jobs used to be good jobs. They were jobs that let members contribute to their local communities, be baseball coaches or girl guide leaders in their spare time,” said Scott.
“Custodians at the Chignecto Regional Centre for Education made $12.92/hour in the year 2000, when minimum wage was $5.60. If those wages had kept track with minimum wage, they’d be making $42.50 today.”
He says that adding another year to a bad offer doesn’t make it a better offer.
“We’re disappointed that government doesn’t seem to think there will be a problem when were forced to hit the streets.”
“Trunk or Treat” rallies are planned across the province Saturday outside MLA constituency offices.
- Halifax – Brendan Maguire; 349 Herring Cove
- Sydney – Sydney Shopping Centre, 272 Prince Street
- Bras D’Or – Dianne Timmins; 1415 Highway 105
- Sydney Mines – Fred Tilley; 1 Elliot St
- Glace Bay – John White; 219 Commercial St.
- New Minas – Outside Walmart, 9097 Commercial St.
- Westville – Tin Houston; 2042 Queen St.
- Truro – Dave Ritcey; 141 Victoria St.
- Elmsdale – John A. MacDonald; 550 Highway 2, #215
- Chester – Danielle Barkhouse; 4080 Highway 3
- Liverpool – Kim Masland; 271 Main St.
- Digby – Jill Balser; 138 Highway #303
- Shelburne – Nolan Young; 164 Water St.
- Yarmouth – Nick Hilton; 392 Main St.
What does a strike mean for each area?
Some areas will have online learning, some will have classes that are cancelled, some will still go to school but will not have the support.
Information on what it looks like for each region is here.
Houston said negotiations with union ‘difficult’
Premier Tim Houston said in a statement on social media that negotiations with this specific union are proving to be “difficult”.
“I am so sorry to report that we must now step up preparations for alternative learning, including online instruction, because of the increased risk of a school support staff strike next week.”
Houston said talks lasted for 12 hours from Thursday night to 7 a.m., Friday.
“During this time government emptied the tank, tabled three different wage offers and made numerous concessions and moves toward the various CUPE asks,” said Houston.
However, an agreement was reached on issues such as occupational health and safety training as well as resources.
He said CUPE would not move from a wage demand they established months ago, insisting on an additional 6.3 per cent to 20.2 per cent increase on top of the wage pattern.
Houston added that they offered wage increases of $8.26 to $18.46 over four years with an increase of up to $3.77/hour for some members.
“I urge CUPE to show flexibility and give the workers themselves an opportunity to vote on the offer.”
Opposition says families deserve better
The NDP says school support workers deserve better from the Houston government and what is most disappointing is that it could have been avoided.
“The Houston government could have listened to workers and worked with them to reach a fair agreement. They could have listened to the families who depend on these workers to make sure their kids get the education and support they deserve,” said Education Critic Paul Wozney in a news release.
Wozney said they have heard from hundreds of worried parents and that children with disabilities who are already not getting the support they need will lose out even more.
Meantime, Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said students and families will once again pay the price of the government’s inaction, with the province’s most vulnerable students bearing the greatest consequence.
“Our education system is already under strain. This year the department of education cut 150 positions, including math and literacy coaches. Now, the auditor general is raising concerns about Nova Scotian students performing below the Canadian average in math and literacy,” said Rankin in a news release.
Rankin said the premier has a responsibility to get back to the bargaining table.
more to come…
