NSTU agrees to go back to the bargaining table through conciliation

HALIFAX, Nov 17, 2016 /CNW/ - The Nova Scotia Teachers Union has agreed to go back to bargaining for 9,300 public school teachers in the province.

"Our hope has always been to get back to bargaining, we want to avert a strike if at all possible" says NSTU president Liette Doucet. "We tried through requesting a conciliation board and through requesting the appointment of a mediator. It seems government is finally willing to get back to the table."

This morning the NSTU was contacted by conciliation officer Jarrod Baboushkin after the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development's negotiating team requested he bring the two negotiating teams together again.

The conciliation process will not affect the current situation with respect to NSTU's impending job action. "We're happy to get back to the table, and hopefully we will be able to reach an agreement," continues Doucet. "However, until an agreement is reached, our provincial executive will continue to plan and implement a strategy for job action," adds Doucet.

NSTU public school members gave its union a strong strike mandate on October 25, voting 96 per cent in favour of job action. Teachers will be in a legal strike position on December 3.

There is no further information available at this time with respect to when both sides will be meeting.

SOURCE Nova Scotia Teachers Union

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