Union representing N.S. school support workers wants pay hikes implemented before March

By CityNews Halifax Staff

The head of the the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) says it’s taking too long for hundreds of school support workers to receive backpay they are owed.

Union president Sandra Mullen says school support workers in the South Shore, Annapolis Valley and Tri-County Regional Centres for Education successfully negotiated new contracts with their employers in November 2022 but wage increases have yet to be implemented.

Mullen tells CityNews Halifax that part of the negotiation process included a review of wage scales for different categories of support workers.

“We have seen some significant increases in those levels,” she says. “But the employer is refusing to implement those until March of 2024.”

Mullen adds that date coincides with the expiration of school support workers’ contract.

She says the respective regional centres for education should have processed the retroactive pay as each wage-scale review was completed.

According to the NSGEU website, classifications that have been reviewed and agreed to include educational assistants, early childhood educators, student support workers, native student advisors, administrative assistants, library personnel, receptionists and others.

The NSGEU is now pushing for arbitration hoping a third-party will evaluate the grievances, and determine if damages should be awarded.