Nova Scotia to impose contract on teachers

The McNeil Liberals are recalling the provincial legislature and will table legislation imposing a contract on teachers.

Nova Scotia’s 9,300 teachers have been without a contract since August 2015. Two tentative agreements, recommended by the union, have been rejected by teachers in the last year. Since then talks to reach a third deal have failed and teachers were planning to start working-to-rule on Monday.

READ MORE: Public split on who to support in teachers dispute

In a Saturday press conference, the government announced it will recall the legislature on Monday and close all schools to students until a contract is in place. Education Minister Karen Casey cited safety concerns as the reason for barring students from classrooms. The union has rejected the government’s assertion that working-to-rule would put students at risk.

“It’s unfortunate that this is what is needed, but it is fortunate that we are able to do it at this point in time, to protect students and keep them safe,” Casey said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's unfortunate that this is what is needed, but it is fortunate that we are able to do it at this point in time, to protect students and keep them safe," Casey said.

The contract that teachers rejected in October will be the one the government will impose. Teachers rejected it by 70 per cent, and then gave their union a 96 per cent strike mandate after the government refused to go back to the table.

The new contract will include a two-year wage freeze followed by a three per cent wage increase over the last two years of the contract. It also freezes the long-service award retroactive to April 2015. The contract will be in place until July 2019.

READ MORE: Nova Scotia teachers’ 16 contract demands and what the province says they cost

Teachers have fought the contract because they want to keep the long service award, and they say they want to negotiate working conditions into the contract. The government has refused to agree to adding working conditions — like class caps — into the contract.

Union President Liette Doucet told reporters teachers will be “very upset” by the legislated contract. She accused the government of trying to pit parents against teachers, calling the government’s announcements on Saturday a “means to create some division.”

Both opposition parties say they will use procedural tactics to delay the bill but unless Liberal MLAs vote against their party it will pass.

Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie called the legislated contract a “bullied solution that does nothing to help the classroom.” He said the Tories will use “all of the tools” at their disposal to show their opposition to the bill.

READ MORE: Students stage classroom walkout in support of teachers

NDP Leader Gary Burrill doesn’t have a seat in the legislature but said his party is “against this anti-democratic, anti-education, and anti-moral piece of legislation.”

Chief negotiator for the government, Rollie King, said he believes the legislation is legal.

“We’ve done our diligence in assuring ourselves that this legislation will withstand a (court) challenge,” King said.

The legislature will resume on Monday at 10 a.m., Casey wouldn’t say how long she expects it to take to pass the bill. In the past contentious legislation has been passed within one week, even if opposition parties filibuster the bill.