Union says strike action looms after deal with NSCC is rejected

The Nova Scotia Community College could soon see the first strike in the schools’ history.

That’s according the Atlantic Academic Union, which said in a statement on Monday that a recent post-conciliation offer was rejected by its members with a 75 per cent no vote. The AAU represents more than 1,000 faculty and support staff at NSCC.

“NSCC’s offer would provide a 7 to 8 per cent economic increase to union members over a three-year contract,” said AAU president Barbara Gillis. “This is behind what other post-secondary institutions have received and is not acceptable to our members who are over 14 per cent behind inflation.”

The union and NSCC will be meeting with the conciliator on Thursday. If no deal is reached, the union said it will launch strike action, likely on Mon. Mar. 18.

In addition to wages, the union said workloads, working conditions and hiring are all issues that need to be resolved.