President’s letter

*This article appears in the Fall, 2025 edition of the Union Stand

Dear members,

Fall is a busy and exciting time: the long, hot days of summer are behind us, our members working in the public education and post-secondary sectors have gotten students back into their routines, and here at the union, we are busy in bargaining new contracts for many of the 38,000 members we represent.

More than 80 of our members’ collective agreements are either expired or set to expire shortly, and our negotiating committees are either already at the bargaining table or making preparations to get there. That process was expedited by the recent arbitration award that was handed down to our 8,500 Civil Servants in mid-September, resulting in a new collective agreement that establishes a wage pattern more than 12 per cent (compounded) over the life of the four-year agreement and, perhaps just as importantly, maintains the strong job security language that exists in their current agreement.

That language is key as both our province and country face uncertain economic conditions – or perhaps more accurately, as we wait to see whether our Premier and Prime Minister decide whether or not they enact austerity measures in response to the changing economy.

At a federal level, we have already witnessed Carney’s government interfere in the collective bargaining process during the Air Canada strike and the Canada Post negotiations. Meanwhile, closer to home, Premier Houston’s government has passed legislation that would allow deputy department heads the ability to fire non-unionized bureaucrats without cause, and dissolved Communications Nova Scotia, forcing unionized members to either take non-union positions or be laid off.

Given these signals, we are doing our best to ensure jobs are protected, while still fighting for the wage and language improvements that we know are still so desperately needed.

Because while economists may say that inflation numbers are down, I know that many Nova Scotians – including public sector workers – are still struggling to afford the basics. Housing costs are astronomical (not just in Halifax, but within our rural communities, as well), power and water rates continue to climb, and the Galen Westons of the world have not lowered grocery prices.

With the help and guidance of your newly elected Board of Directors (see page 6-7 to see who is on the Board this term!), we are preparing to help ensure that NSGEU members are recognized for the incredible work that you do, delivering important public services throughout Nova Scotia.

In Solidarity,

Sandra Mullen
NSGEU President