HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's Liberal government isn't committing yet to going back to the bargaining table with the teachers union as a countdown to the province's first strike by educators in public schools begins.

The members of the teachers union voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday in favour of strike action after twice rejecting tentative agreements over the last year.

Strike action that ranges from a complete walkout to work-to-rule could begin by Dec. 3.

Education Minister Karen Casey said Wednesday at a news conference that the next move now rests with the union, while the union and the opposition parties say the province could offer to participate in further bargaining talks.

"We are not at a table. The members have taken their strike vote. They have a mandate to strike and they are considering their options about what they might do," she said.

Casey also said she has to hold salaries for teachers to the government's stated pattern for all public sector workers -- a three per cent increase over the next four years.

The Liberals have passed legislation requiring employers to keep wage increases for all public sector workers within that envelope unless savings can be identified elsewhere, but the government has yet to proclaim the bill.

Union leaders have likened Bill 148 to a "gun to the head" in negotiations and are challenging its constitutionality.

Casey says the province will hold separate discussions with the union and school boards about working conditions.

Doucet said her membership has sent her a clear message to fight for a small wage increase and the maintenance of a long service award.

"Teachers deserve a fair increase, a cost-of-living increase (in wages) at minimum ... We feel that's fair," she said.

The union also argues there's a need for increased numbers of specialists such as speech language pathologists, psychologists, resource teachers and ESL teachers.

Doucet said those issues belong at the bargaining table rather than at outside talks with the department.

The province has argued that it has already put in place policies that will cap class sizes and has added resources to assist in education in math and literacy.