Nova Scotia teachers vote 98 per cent in favour of strike mandate
Unionized public school teachers in Nova Scotia have voted in favour of a strike mandate.
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union said 98 per cent of its more than 10,000 members voted in support Thursday.
The vote came ahead of conciliation talks next week aimed at assisting lagging contract negotiations with the province.
Teachers union president Ryan Lutes said the vote sends a clear message.
"What teachers are saying with this vote is that the status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable, and they aren't prepared to sit idly by while the situation grows worse," he said in a news release Thursday night. "It's time to fix our schools."
Education Minister Becky Druhan said she was disappointed at the vote results but not surprised.
"I want to reassure parents that the outcome of this vote has no impact on school operations and does not trigger a strike," Druhan said in a statement. "This vote is only a distraction that has caused confusion and anxiety for students and their families."
The sides have been in negotiations since last June, but Lutes has said there has been no progress on the union's main issues, which include school violence, teacher retention and a lack of substitute teachers.
A lack of action on school violence is a particular sticking point, Lutes said, adding that over 50 per cent of union members have reported being victimized by violence or the threat of violence at school. "That's an unacceptable number," he said.
In a union survey completed by 2,534 members last year, 55 per cent said they had been the victim of a violent act or threat at work, while 92 per cent said that they'd witnessed violence "first-hand at school." The issue of school violence is currently being examined by Nova Scotia's auditor general.
Lutes said teacher pay is also a priority, although he wouldn't be specific about what the union is asking for ahead of conciliation.
"I think those specific conversations are best left to the bargaining table, but I think in general teachers want a competitive salary," he said, adding that his membership also needs to keep up with inflation. "I think it's reasonable, especially in a teacher shortage where we need to attract people to the profession."
According to the federal government's most recent labour market survey, the median hourly wage for a Canadian secondary school teacher is $45.30, while the corresponding hourly wage in Nova Scotia is $41.76.
Druhan said earlier that the government and the union are in agreement when it comes to tackling complex issues such as violence in schools, but she said the solutions will be found through ongoing broader discussions that include teacher and education assistants as well as other professionals across the education system.
"Those complex issues are best served by that collaborative work," said Druhan.
The minister also wouldn't tip the government's hand in the conciliation talks, but she said it has been committed to bargaining "fair wages" for all public sector employees.
"I'm optimistic that we can get a negotiated agreement that does reflect our commitment," she said.
The union went on strike for the first time in its history in February 2017 when it held a one-day walkout in the midst of a contract dispute with the former Liberal government.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2024.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby and grandparents killed in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
An infant and the child's grandparents – aged 55 and 60 – were all killed when a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. caused a crash involving at least six vehicles, the Special Investigations Unit says. The driver of the suspect vehicle also died.
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
T. rex is at the centre of a debate over dinosaur intelligence
Surmising even the physical appearance of a dinosaur - or any extinct animal - based on its fossils is a tricky proposition, with so many uncertainties involved. Assessing a dinosaur's intelligence, considering the innumerable factors contributing to that trait, is exponentially more difficult.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
This is how many dentists have actually signed up for Canada's new free dental program
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.