A Letter to Nova Scotia Parents

On November 28th we announced our intention to begin a province-wide work-to-rule strike action on Monday, December 5th.  

This will involve 9,300 public school members, which includes classroom teachers and specialist teachers, administrators, school psychologists, speech language pathologists, school board consultants, and other NSTU public school members who work for school boards and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The work-to-rule will affect all of the province’s eight school boards.

We want all Nova Scotians, particularly parents, to know:

• Our students remain our top priority. We will continue to focus on teaching students in a safe learning environment. Nova Scotia students will continue to receive the best education we can give them. 

• We don’t take this lightly. We are parents, just like you, and we know this will be disruptive. We are taking this step because sometimes you have to take a stand, and we are taking one for better education in Nova Scotia.

• Work-to-rule means that we will prepare to teach, and actively teach, students in safe classroom environments. No more and no less.

• We will stay in the classroom, but limit our work to demonstrate how much we do every day for our students that goes above and beyond, and shine a light on all the clerical tasks that prevent us from directly teaching students. This is a necessary first step to make education better for all students in Nova Scotia. We hope it’s the only step and that we get to a new collective agreement soon.

• We will keep you informed. We will make sure you have important, clear information on how this will impact you and your kids. ActForEducation.ca will be updated regularly.

Teachers have not had a contract for a year and a half. Our jobs have changed without our input or consultation, and that has been impacting students every day. We are doing less of what is most important and less of what we do best: Teach. We have attempted to change this situation at the bargaining table, but the government will not allow working conditions to be part of our collective agreement. And they have to be to make real change. 

We need a fair contract that puts the needs of students and teachers before bureaucracy.

Sometimes you have to take a stand. We think this is one of those times. We’re fighting because we know every Nova Scotian works hard to give their kids the best life possible. We’re fighting to give them our best too.

The Teachers of Nova Scotia