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- calendar_today October 22, 2026
School Support Staff Strike Looms in Nova Scotia
The threat of a school support staff strike in Nova Scotia has parents of students with disabilities worried about their children's continued access to education. The potential walkout, involving thousands of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members, could result in some students being unable to attend school due to the absence of necessary support personnel.
Impact on Families and Students With Disabilities
Parents like Heather Rose, who lives in Hubley, Nova Scotia, face difficult decisions as the strike approaches. Rose has two sons; her eldest, Aidan, has Down syndrome and relies on one-on-one support at school, which would not be available if employees strike.
“Aidan loves school, so it’ll be devastating,” Rose said. “He will be absolutely devastated to not be able to be with his peers, his teachers and his EPAs that are, in his mind … some of his best friends.” She was told her son’s junior high school might be able to allow him to attend for just 30 minutes per day if the strike goes ahead.
Union Negotiations and Core Issues
For months, the province’s regional centres for education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial have been in contract negotiations with CUPE, which represents 5,500 workers. The workers include educational program assistants (EPAs), early childhood educators in the pre-primary program, bus drivers, library support specialists, student support workers, custodians, and more. As of the most recent update, CUPE members will be in a legal strike position on October 26 if negotiations do not yield an agreement.
Core issues among CUPE locals include wages, benefits, school safety, staffing levels, and training. A union representative has stated that they are still willing to bargain and work towards a deal, with another negotiation round scheduled with the francophone school board.
Varied Regional Response and Access to Education
The impact of a possible strike would differ across regions. Some districts plan a mix of in-person, at-home, and online learning, while others, such as the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education, will close schools entirely and shift to alternative formats. Some pre-primary programs may be paused altogether.
Lindsey Bunin, spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, said officials are proactively planning how to support students with disabilities if a strike occurs. Principals are contacting families directly, but Bunin acknowledged that a student’s ability to attend school would depend on their individual needs and how job action affects support services.
Personal Challenges for Parents and Students
Karen Morash from Seabright, Nova Scotia, is another parent preparing for challenges. Her 14-year-old daughter, Janelle, is on the autism spectrum and typically has EPA support throughout the school day—support that would not be available if a strike happened. Morash has been granted permission to act as her daughter's caregiver at school, but would have to take leave from her full-time job to do so.
Both Rose and Morash recall the lengthy 2023 CUPE strike, which also prevented their children from attending school for five weeks. The experience was difficult and confusing for the students, who had to watch their peers continue their education while they were left out.
Calls for Inclusion and Equity
The mothers support the right of CUPE’s members to strike and recognize their vital role, but they underline that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure students’ right to education. “My daughter has the right to be acknowledged as a person. She should be able to attend school like all the other kids,” Morash said.
In response, Education Minister Brendan Maguire affirmed his appreciation for school support staff and acknowledged the strain labour action places on communities. He expressed hope that, should a strike occur, agreements will be reached to accommodate students with complex needs so that they may keep learning alongside their peers.
Source: cbc.ca.
