School support staff union accuses Houston government of stalling contract talks

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing 5,000 school support workers in Nova Scotia, has accused the provincial government of hindering contract negotiations. Lead negotiator Nelson Scott criticized the Progressive Conservative government for taking a tough stance on wage increases and refusing to allow union locals to bargain collectively at a single negotiating table.

Scott stated, “We had the common table with the government before, but now they want every regional centre for education to negotiate their own contracts. This divide and conquer approach is just another stall tactic by the government.” Negotiations that were scheduled for November were canceled following Premier Tim Houston’s snap election call, leading all union locals to enter conciliation.

While the government has offered a three per cent raise in the first year and two per cent in each subsequent year of a three-year contract, the union is seeking specific dollar amount increases rather than percentage raises. Scott emphasized the importance of fair compensation in light of inflation, stating, “Our members deserve a little bit of respect.”

In addition to wage issues, the union is advocating for improved health and safety measures in the workplace to better protect support staff from incidents of violence. A recent survey highlighted instances of classroom violence against support workers, underscoring the need for stronger contractual language in this area.

Although most CUPE locals reached agreements with the government in April 2023, those contracts have since expired. Support staff in the Halifax area faced a month-long strike before reaching a resolution towards the end of the previous school year. In October, members of the CUPE locals voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike, signaling growing discontent among workers.

CBC News reached out to the new Minister of Education, Brendan Maguire, and the Minister responsible for labor relations, John Lohr, for comment, but no response was immediately provided. The ongoing dispute between CUPE and the government underscores the challenges facing school support workers in Nova Scotia and the importance of fair and equitable negotiations.