Nova Scotia’s teachers and educational specialists have voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action.
The Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union (NSTU) is calling the result “a resounding wake-up call to government that it can no longer continue to ignore the many crises boiling over inside our public schools.”
The strike vote involved more than 10,000 and took place on April 11.
“Teachers are frustrated by rapidly declining conditions inside their schools, and by the government’s lack of action to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students,” said NSTU president Ryan Lutes.
“Teachers want the escalating levels of violence they are witnessing addressed. They want to see resources allocated to help solve the mental health crisis inside schools. They want to see a plan to end the teacher shortage that focuses on retention and ensures that our substitutes aren’t among the lowest paid in Canada. Teachers want the government to come to the table and be prepared to negotiate a fair contract in the best interest of students, teachers and families, but so far that just hasn’t been the case.”
Lutes said teachers would prefer not to strike, but will take action if this government doesn’t start taking the challenges facing students and their teachers seriously.
“What teachers are saying with this vote is that the status quo is unacceptable and unstainable, and they aren’t prepared to sit idly by while the situation grows worse. It’s time to fix our schools. Our kids and their teachers deserve better. It’s my sincere wish that government will see this result and come back to the table prepared to engage in meaningful discussions.”
Talks between teachers and government are scheduled to continue with the assistance of a conciliator. The NSTU is hopeful that the government’s negotiating team will approach these talks with a mandate to address the needs of the education system. ❚
