Students from many schools across Nova Scotia walked out of class this morning.
They are protesting the break down in negotiations between the province and the NSTU.
While they support teachers, they say the union’s planned work to rule action next week will affect them.
A group from Maple Grove Education Centre made the long and cold trek this morning from Hebron to downtown Yarmouth
and gathered at MLA Zach Churchill’s office.
Jayson Surette says they want to send a message that students are united.
“I feel a lot more energized. I feel the stress got off me seeing that I was able to get my word out to our government representative. You know, take control of this. It ain’t (sic) just Yarmouth, it’s Par-en-Bas, it’s the high school, it’s right up to Cape Breton.”
Zach Churchill says he wants the impasse resolved so that students can get what they deserve in the classroom and extra-curricular
activities.
But he says the union’s demands are costly.
“The issue has come down to finances and the province’s ability to pay. In the last round of negotiations there was $10 million put on the table by the government side to support classroom conditions. The union came back with an ask that was calculated at about half a billion dollars that included an 8% pay increase.”
Teachers will start work-to-rule job action Monday, meaning sports, clubs and any extracurricular activities will no longer take place.
