Nova Scotia Teachers Union pulls out of workplace committee meeting

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union has pulled out of a meeting scheduled for Thursday to discuss workplace concerns with the provincial government and school boards.

The union informed Education Minister Karen Casey late Wednesday that the meeting, which was to set a list of topics to discuss in the future, had to be postponed.

"The premier has insisted that working conditions will only be discussed in this process and not through bargaining," union president Liette Doucet said in a news release.

"We will not lead teachers into a process with government that appears intended to provide sound bites and distract from our ongoing labour dispute."

The final straw

Doucet cited a news conference Tuesday by Casey to announce the suspension of student assessments as "the final straw." The union was not invited to or informed of the event, and not told of its subject ahead of time.

Doucet called Casey's announcement mostly symbolic, because the majority of assessments have already been completed for the school year.

"Teachers have lost faith that government is truly willing to form a partnership based on mutual respect," she said, adding she's heard many concerns about a recent advertising campaign by the government, which she deemed "an anti-teacher media campaign."

'Want to hear from teachers'

In a statement, Casey said she was disappointed in the union's decision to pull out of the meeting, but said the government is committed to improving working conditions for teachers.

"The union does not want to sit down with the department and representatives from the school boards to discuss working conditions," Casey said. "If the union will not come to the meeting, we still want to hear from teachers."

Casey said the government wants to find a way for teachers to directly participate in the meetings.

"If teachers want to speak directly to the government, we are here to listen," she said.

Legal strike position looms

This is the latest development in an ongoing labour dispute between the two sides and comes on the same day Labour Minister Kelly Regan rejected the union's call for her to appoint a mediator. Efforts to bring the matter before a conciliation board have also failed.

Last month teachers voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action after the government said it was done bargaining. That followed teachers' rejection of two tentative agreements reached between the two sides in the last year.

Teachers are in a legal position to strike as of Dec. 3.

The union has cited workplace concerns and classroom conditions as major stumbling blocks to reaching a deal, but also opposes the standard wage package the government is offering all unions. That package includes a three-per cent raise over four years and the freezing of the long-service award.

McNeil has said he's willing to consider changes to the wage package, but teachers must be prepared to give up something else, such as some of their sick days, or begin contributing to toward their health-care plan.