A 16-month contract dispute between the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and provincial government is over.
The Liberals used their majority government to pass Bill 75 by a vote of 33 to 17, ending work-to-rule job action that started December 5.
Union President Liette Doucet says it marks a dark day for the education system in Nova Scotia.
“This bill does nothing to improve working conditions in the classroom, it does nothing for our students. Basically, all it does is take away our collective rights and imposes a contract on us.”
All Liberal MLAs voted in favour of the bill while all opposition members were against.
The new law imposes a four year contract on teachers that includes a three per cent increase in salary.
Three tentative agreements were rejected by union members.
Doucet says the NSTU is planning a court challenge on the decision as soon as possible.
Teachers have stood up, they’re not giving up the fight to improve classroom conditions. We will continue to express what is happening in our classrooms to try to have this government make the changes that are needed.”
Meanwhile, work begins right away to create a 14-member committee to improve classroom conditions.
Premier Stephen McNeil said following the vote the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions will make recommendations on how $20-million should be invested to improve classrooms.
The committee will be created over the next two weeks and will include nine teachers and four representatives from the education department.
Recommendations will be made to government by the end of April.
Also, McNeil stated that the province saved about $3.4-million from last week’s one day teacher strike.
He says the money would be used for student grants.
