School support workers in Annapolis Valley could go on strike next week

The union representing school support workers at the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education says those employees will go on strike on Oct. 13 if a deal on a contract cannot be reached.

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union represents more than 600 school support workers at the centre for education. They include early childhood educators, educational assistants, student support workers, outreach workers, parent navigators, library staff, child and youth practitioners, native student advisers, literacy support workers and student supervisors.

While both sides will meet again on Tuesday to continue negotiating, the employees will be in a legal strike position on Sunday, and the union has given Nova Scotia's labour minister a 48-hour strike notice.

NSGEU president Sandra Mullen says pay is a key factor in the dispute.

"You walk into any fast-food outlet in the province and you might find the fact that you could start at 16 something an hour with a signing bonus," she said. "It's going to be really hard to keep folks working in that school at a minimum wage."

Minimum wage in Nova Scotia rose to $13.60 on Oct. 1. 

Pay equity across the province is another issue.

Assistant early childhood educators are paid $22.40 an hour at the top of the wage grid in the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education, but the same position in the Halifax Regional Centre for Education pays $25.09. Similarly, lead ECEs in the Annapolis Valley make $27.37 an hour at the top, while those in the Halifax area make $35.14.

Disruption for students, families

If the workers go on strike next week, it means some families would be left without child care, including pre-primary students and some children with special needs.

The union advises parents to consider making alternative arrangements if their child requires care.

In a news release, the NSGEU said the regional centre for education and the provincial government are not addressing the causes of shortages in the sector, and that members want a review of their positions and compensation, as well as a fair job evaluation process.

In a strike vote this spring, 98 per cent of Local 73 members voted in favour of striking, and last week, 97 per cent voted to reject the employer's final offer.

Staff at other regional centres could also strike

School support workers at two other regional centres for education may also soon be poised to strike.

Members of Local 70, who are employed at the South Shore Regional Centre for Education, voted 97 per cent in favour of striking, and Local 74, representing those at the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education, voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action. 

Those two locals plan to vote on their employers' final offers next week. About 200 employees at the two regional centres for education would be affected in the event of a strike.

In an email to CBC News, the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education said it is "hopeful that a fair negotiated agreement can be reached."

Should a strike happen, it said it expects schools would remain open, "but some programs/supports may be impacted," including the pre-primary program.

The centre said it is "working on plans to provide at-home learning materials for pre-primary children. As well, school administrators would reach out to some families of students who receive direct support from an educational assistant with more information."