HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--School support staff represented by CUPE’s Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions (NSSBCU) will hold information pickets and rallies around the province on Saturday, April 15th. Education workers will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 AM on April 21st.
The 5400 plus education workers voted 97.5% in favour of strike action if an agreement that secures significant wage increases for members cannot be reached. CUPE education workers are among the lowest paid workers in the public sector, with the majority making less than $30,000 a year. NSSBCU filed for conciliation in January in the hopes that a third party would help refocus government on finalizing a fair deal that helps members escape poverty, but conciliation talks failed, and the parties received reports from conciliation officers on April 6th.
NSSBCU represents more than 5400 school support staff at all seven regional centres for education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. Members include bus drivers, early childhood educators in the pre-primary program, educational program assistants, custodians, food services staff, and tradespeople.
Presidents of the 8 locals involved will be available for comment on Saturday. Locations for the rallies and contact details for local representatives are listed below.
|
Contact person and phone number |
Location |
Time |
Yarmouth |
Andrew Weaver 902-837-6109 |
Strike Headquarters, 242 Water Street Collins Street Parking Lot |
1 PM |
Barrington |
Lisa deMolitor 902-875-7509 |
Wilson’s Home Hardware Building Centre 3542 NS Trunk 3, Barrington Passage |
11 AM |
Bridgewater |
Dwayne Sarty 902-521-1781 |
Lahave Street and Old Bridge Street Intersection |
11 AM |
Dartmouth |
Chris Melanson 902-818-7767 |
March from Ferry Terminal Park to Zatzman Sportsplex |
1 PM |
New Minas |
Cindy Courtney 902-532-8384 |
New Minas Walmart Parking Lot 9097 Commercial Street |
11 AM
|
New Glasgow |
Robert McKay
|
March beginning at New Glasgow CUPE Office |
2 PM |
Amherst |
Clint Eagles 902-305-6161 |
March beginning at Old Amherst Town Hall 5 Ratchford Street |
2 PM |
Port Hawkesbury |
Nelson Scott 902-574-1380
Gerrard Matthews 902-870-2422 |
Causeway Rotary, Port Hawkesbury, speakers to follow at Unifor Hall, 323 Reeves Street, Port Hawkesbury |
1 PM |
Truro |
Sherylynn Woodworth 902-956-1175 |
Rally starting at Inn on the Prince |
2 PM |
:sm/cope 491