The president of the Nova Scotia Teacher’s Union admits she’s in limbo right now.
Liette Doucet says there are no talks at the moment between them and the Nova Scotia government.
She says the union is hopeful the government will decide to come back to the table.
“I really do think it’s in the best interest of the students in this province that the government agree to sit with us. We do not want to go on strike.”
However, Doucet says the membership will stand up and do what’s necessary to make education better in Nova Scotia.
She says teachers should be preparing for job action, especially with no indication of talks picking back up.
The earliest teachers can strike is December 3.
Meanwhile, Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey says they’re willing to go to the table.
However, decisions about wages and long-service awards are not up for negotiations.
Casey says the province is open to talk about changes to compensation packages that could support those things.
“If you want to redirect some of that towards salary, towards long service come to us with a proposal and we would be glad to talk with you about that. They have not yet done that.”
Casey says it could help bring the two sides together to talk and help address some concerns.
She says the province is working on contingency plans to make sure students remain in the classroom if there is a strike.
