NSCAD teaching assistants on strike after negotiations come to a halt

CITYnews halifax/ By Chris Halef

The union representing teaching assistants at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) University says its members, after negotiations came to an abrupt halt.

Tuesday was day 13 for negotiations, but according to CUPE 3912, NSCAD’s bargaining team said they were no longer interested in responding to their demands for fair wages.

Lauren McKenzie, president of CUPE 3912, told The Todd Veinotte Show the two sides met for eight hours on Tuesday but were unable to reach an agreement.

“At the end of the day, we put forward a comprehensive package to the employer, and they essentially torpedoed it,” she said. “They walked away from the table without even countering our offer, which is a first for me, and a first for the local.”

The union, which represents independent course appointees, research assistants, and teaching assistants at NSCAD, held a rally outside the university on Wednesday. The group will join the arts rally protesting budget cuts at Province House.

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McKenzie said she and the union are used to “hard negotiations” but for the school to walk away, left them in “a state of shock.”

“To walk away from the bargaining table, the negotiating table, from a comprehensive package that’s been put forward… by unpaid labour of our bargaining team is so disrespectful. It’s unprecedented, and yeah, we’re mad,” she said.

Meantime, NSCAD is pointing the finger at the union for the halt in negotiations.

“To date, CUPE has not demonstrated meaningful negotiation on key terms in the agreement including wages,” the university said in an emailed statement. “CUPE responded with a counteroffer to our proposed wages for the first time yesterday with minimal change on their position.”

The union represents 68 staff at the university for the winter 2026 semester.

Granville Street packed with protesters on Wednesday afternoon (Mark Hodgins_CityNews)