Halifax-area school support staff including Assistive Technology Support Workers, Child and Youth Care Practitioners, Mi’kmaq and Indigenous Student Support Workers, African Nova Scotian School Support Workers, Schools Plus Community Outreach Workers, Educational Program Assistants, Early Childhood Educators and School Library Specialists have withdrawn services as of 12:01 AM Wednesday.
“We’re very disappointed. We came back to the bargaining table today with a strong mandate from our members, hoping that government would be prepared to negotiate, but there was no willingness whatsoever,” said CUPE 5047 President Chris Melanson. “It’s clear that government is not prepared to give our members the respect they deserve, and at this point, we have no choice but to withdraw our services.”
This weekend, Halifax-area school support staff voted decisively against accepting a tentative agreement negotiated with government. CUPE 5047 represents more than 1800 education workers in the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.
“Education workers want to be in schools, supporting students and families. We do this work because we love it, not because we want to get rich. But our members can’t survive on these wages any longer, and we need to see some changes.”