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- calendar_today October 31, 2026
Strike Averted for Nova Scotia School Support Staff
About 5,500 school support staff workers in Nova Scotia will not go on strike Monday following a tentative agreement reached late Friday evening between the province and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The deal was reached after nearly three hours of renewed negotiations, bringing relief to schools and families across the province.
Background on Labour Negotiations
CUPE, which represents early childhood educators, librarians, student support workers, and other school staff, had filed a 48-hour strike notice early Friday after a marathon 12-hour bargaining session ended without resolution. The potential strike threatened to disrupt school operations and programs, but both sides returned to the negotiating table Friday evening, culminating in a tentative deal.
Union Recommends Tentative Agreement
According to Mary-Dan Johnston, CUPE's spokesperson for the Atlantic region, the union's negotiating team was satisfied with the province's improved offer. "This meets the needs our members have identified," Johnston said. The details of the agreement will be presented to CUPE members in the coming days, followed by voting on the deal.
While specific terms were not disclosed, Johnston noted that the new tentative deal included an improved wage offer compared to previous proposals. The province's earlier offer had ranged from 8.26% to 18.46% in wage increases over four years, along with a $3.77 per hour raise for certain positions. CUPE had sought a $3.50 per hour wage increase for all members by 2029. The union also reported positive developments regarding workplace safety and staff training.
Planned Rallies Cancelled
In anticipation of the deal, CUPE announced that all but two of the 14 rallies previously planned for Saturday were cancelled. Most of these rallies were set to be held at the constituency offices of government Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Reaction from Premier Tim Houston
Premier Tim Houston confirmed the tentative agreement in a Facebook post, stating, "Both parties came back together this evening to negotiate with the shared goal of reaching a fair deal and preventing any impacts to students, their families, and all staff in our school system." Houston emphasized that the agreement ensures school operations and programs across Nova Scotia would continue without interruption, calling it "the best and most important outcome for our students."
Next Steps
The details of the agreement will be formally shared with union members, with voting procedures to follow. The averted strike means that students, families, and school staff across Nova Scotia can expect school routines to remain uninterrupted as the agreement moves toward ratification.
Related coverage
Source: cbc.ca.
