Local 70 – South Shore Regional Centre for Education Bargaining Update: Conciliation Dates & Strike Vote Scheduled

Dear member,

Your Bargaining Committee reached an impasse with your Employer on March 30^th, 2022 and filed for conciliation on April 1^st, 2022. There are several outstanding items we could not come to an agreement on. Click this link to view (list of outstanding items).

Conciliation Scheduled

A conciliation session has been scheduled for May 10^th, 2022. A second day has been scheduled for May 16^th, if required.

What is Conciliation? Conciliation is a requirement under the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act that takes place when regular negotiations fail to reach an agreement. Either party may apply to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education requesting the services of a Conciliation Officer. The Conciliation Officer does not have the power to impose a settlement on either party. Instead, their role is to mediate between the parties and help them reach an agreement.

Strike Vote Scheduled

Your Bargaining Committee needs your help with a strong strike vote to support them as they head into the conciliation process. Two information & voting sessions have been scheduled. Please mark these dates in your calendars and plan to attend.

Session 1: Thursday, April 28 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Park View Education Centre, 1485 King St, Bridgewater

Session 2: Wednesday, May 4 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Park View Education Centre, 1485 King St, Bridgewater

Members of your Bargaining Committee and the Chief Negotiator will be in attendance to review and discuss the details of the Employer’s final offer, give members the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns, and conduct a strike vote.

Your Bargaining Committee is recommending you vote against the Employer’s final offer.

Please click the following link to view the Employer’s final offer (Employer’s final offer). As well, please click this link to see the Union’s initial proposal (Union’s Initial Proposal).

Please note that voting in favour of a strike does not mean you will be going on strike at this time but it does give your Committee negotiating strength.

Next steps: If your Committee is unable to achieve notable improvements during conciliation, we will ask the Conciliation Officer to file their report with the Labour Board and we will conduct another strike vote with you. When the Conciliation Officer files their report, it triggers a 14-day countdown after which (at any time) a legal strike or lockout could begin.

Your strong support and solidarity are greatly appreciated throughout the bargaining process, and we will be relying on this even more as we move ahead.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact one of your Bargaining Committee representatives:

Bev Waddell, bevwadd@hotmail.com

Tracey Cook, tl.cook@hotmail.com

Stacey Jensen, fun-e-layde@hotmail.com

Chief Negotiator Lloyd Samson, LSamson@nsgeu.ca