Nova Scotia Teachers Union and government returning to bargaining table
'We want to avert a strike if at all possible,' says NSTU president Liette Doucet
The Nova Scotia government and Nova Scotia Teachers Union are going back to the bargaining table to try to avoid a strike within weeks.
Education Minister Karen Casey said Thursday she has reached out to conciliator Jarrod Baboushkin, who worked with the two sides in June and helped the government and the union reach their second tentative agreement. The deal was ultimately rejected by teachers earlier this fall.
"I've asked the conciliator to invite both sides back to the table," Casey said. "We're ready and willing to go."
A few hours later, the union said it was willing to talk again.
"Our hope has always been to get back to bargaining; we want to avert a strike if at all possible," NSTU president Liette Doucet said in a news release. "We tried through requesting a conciliation board and through requesting the appointment of a mediator. It seems government is finally willing to get back to the table."
Teachers are in a legal strike position Dec. 3.