Nova Scotia Teachers Union ratifies contract that focuses on student outcomes, supporting teachers
Members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) have ratified a tentative agreement with the province.
Last month, Premier Tim Houston announced the province reached an agreement in principle with the union shortly after 98 per cent of its more than 10,000 members voted in favour of a strike mandate.
In a provincewide electronic vote held Wednesday, 91 per cent of the members voted 80.5 per cent in favour of the deal.
“This agreement contains several important gains for teachers, and while it doesn’t address all the challenges our schools are facing, it is a fair agreement that serves as a solid stepping stone to future progress,” says NSTU president Ryan Lutes.
“This would not have been possible without the strength and solidarity members demonstrated when they provided the bargaining team with an overwhelming strike mandate earlier this spring.”
NSTU's news release says, when compound interest is factored in, the contract gives teachers a salary increase of 11.47 per cent over three years retroactive to Aug. 1, 2023.
The release says substitute teachers will also be receiving an additional 12 per cent salary increase and now require eight fewer consecutive days to qualify as a full-time teacher.
According to Lutes, this will help address the teacher shortage.
“More work needs to be done to fix the retention and recruitment crisis facing our public schools, but providing substitutes with a more competitive salary is a step in the right direction. We look forward to continuing to work with government on solutions to eliminating the teacher shortage moving forward,” says Lutes.
The agreement also includes an increase to the amount of time teachers are given for marking and preparation.
Starting Aug. 1, teachers will have a minimum of 15 per cent of instructional time for marking and preparation averaged over each semester/term.
Under the new agreement, the number of school counsellors across the province will also increase and the province has guaranteed that neither class sizes nor the instructional day will grow under this contract.
"The NSTU will continue the ongoing work of the Safe and Inclusive School’s Committee with the province to address the issue of school violence," reads the release.
A news release from the provincial government says the new agreement is about an investment in students and student outcomes, as well as supports teachers across the province.
“Students are at the core of our education system, a fact I truly feel is recognized by the agreement we’ve successfully negotiated with the NSTU,” said Becky Druhan, minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
“We’ve heard from teachers about how to improve classroom conditions and outcomes and are acting on a shared commitment to create great learning and great working environments, both through this new agreement and through ongoing work at the departmental, regional and school levels.”
The previous teachers' contract expired on July 31. The province and the NSTU engaged in collective bargaining for approximately 10 months and also required the assistance of a conciliator.
The province says the new agreement will be posted online in the coming days.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6937077.1719027124!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Oilers force Game 7 of Stanley Cup final with 5-1 win over Panthers
The Oilers are one win from history. The Panthers are one loss from infamy. Zach Hyman scored his playoff-leading 16th goal and Stuart Skinner made 20 saves as Edmonton defeated Florida 5-1 on Friday to force Game 7 in the Stanley Cup final.
Where is Louis Riel? Heritage Minute of Métis leader quietly removed
A decision to quietly remove a decades-old Heritage Minute on Louis Riel has left some in the Métis community scratching their heads, as questions are raised about how Canada's history is portrayed.
Heritage minister views next election as a referendum on Canadian cultural reforms
Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge says the next federal election could become a referendum on Canadian culture and the trio of legislative measures the Liberals have advanced to try to protect it.
Billionaire businessman James K. Irving dead at 96
The family of Canadian billionaire businessman James K. Irving has announced his death at the age of 96, just over a month after the death of his younger brother, Arthur.
'Reckless in the extreme': Lamborghini driver convicted for crash while passing Toronto streetcar
A Lamborghini driver who tried to pass a Toronto streetcar at three times the speed limit, striking several parked cars and totalling his own vehicle, has been found guilty of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
Pedestrian killed on Hwy. 97 following bus crash that caused 'numerous' injuries
A pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 97 in the B.C. Interior early Friday afternoon as emergency crews were responding a school bus crash that caused “numerous” injuries to those on board.
4 people found dead in southwestern Ontario town of Harrow
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after four people were found dead in the town of Harrow, just south of Windsor. Officers were called to a residence on County Road 13 at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
4 members of a billionaire family get prison in Switzerland for exploiting domestic workers
An Indian-born billionaire and three family members were sentenced to prison on Friday for exploiting domestic workers at their lakeside villa in Switzerland by seizing their passports, barring them from going out and making them work up to 18 hours a day.
MP Marco Mendicino spat on by man in Ottawa
A video circulating online shows MP and former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino get spat on while on his way into a government building in Ottawa.