Education Minister Karen Casey says the province won’t announce its next steps in the dispute with teachers until the union shows its hand.
Casey spoke to reporters early Wednesday after teachers overwhelmingly rejected a second tentative agreement within one year. Teachers rejected the agreement by 70 per cent, a resounding “No,” considering 94 per cent of teachers voted.
“We have to hear from the teachers as to what their next steps are,” Casey said. “The ball is in their court.”
READ MORE: Teachers explain why they will vote no to tentative agreement
Late Tuesday, Casey released a statement saying the government “will not be returning to the table” with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. Casey said both sides had invested “a lot of time and energy” to reach two tentative agreements with the teachers. She said the fact that both were rejected mean the “collective bargaining process has run its course.”
Last week Premier Stephen McNeil said he would not allow the dispute to go to arbitration. In order for teachers to go to arbitration both the government and the union would have to agree to it. Casey wouldn’t confirm if McNeil’s comments still stand, but the Liberal’s wage legislation is meant to restrict the decisions an arbitrator can make, and the government has previously said it would proclaim Bill 148 if negotiations end up in arbitration.
Casey also wouldn’t say whether the government is considering anti-strike legislation or a lockout.
Union considering all options, including strike
With those two options seemingly off the table, union president Liette Doucet told Global News on Wednesday “that limits” the union’s options. The union is considering a strike, working to rule, or doing nothing and waiting out the government.
Over the next few weeks the union executive will decide what the next step will be. Nova Scotia teachers have never gone on strike, but Doucet said the union is “seriously” considering asking members for a strike mandate.
Following yesterday’s “No” vote the provincial conciliator will file a report on the conciliation process. That will launch a 44-day cooling-off period before either side can take action. After 44 days passes, the union must give the government a 48-hour warning if it intends to strike.
WATCH: Nova Scotia Teachers Union President Liette Doucet talks to Global News Morning about rejection of second teachers contract
Opposition parties slam McNeil for vote outcome
Both opposition parties laid the blame for the rejection of the deal with Premier Stephen McNeil but are recommending different courses of action for the government moving forward.
NDP Leader Gary Burrill is calling on the Liberals to return to the bargaining table with teachers and repeal Bill 148.
“It is profoundly disrespectful to say that ‘we are not going to be returning to the table,'” Burrill said. “It’s disrespectful in the exact way that Bill 148 is disrespectful and this is the disrespect that the teachers have rejected in the vote.”
Meantime Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie called on McNeil to use whatever tools at his disposal to avoid a strike.
Baillie would not directly say whether he is in favour of anti-strike legislation. He called on McNeil to “come forward and show parents how we’re going to avoid losing part of the school year.”
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