Houston must act now to prevent school support staff strike: NSNDP

HALIFAX —With more than 5,500 school support workers potentially set to strike next week, the Official Opposition is calling on the Houston government to reach a fair deal and prevent widespread disruptions for students and families.

Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender and Education Critic Paul Wozney wrote to Premier Tim Houston and Education Minister Brendan Maguire this morning, urging them to take action. The strike could force schools to close, cancel bus routes, suspend pre-primary programs, and leave students with disabilities without the supports they rely on every day.

“We’re hearing from families who are deeply worried about what next week could mean for their kids. Families are facing the possibility of closed schools, cancelled buses, and losing the classroom supports their children depend on,” said Chender. “Children with disabilities already face barriers to getting the education they deserve, and losing these supports would be devastating. Students and families should not have to go through this — we need the government to take action now and make sure our schools stay open and children can continue to learn.”

More than 133,000 students attend Nova Scotia public schools. A strike could also leave parents scrambling to find child care, find transportation and cover additional costs at a time when many families are already struggling to make ends meet.

School support workers, including educational program assistants, early childhood educators, bus drivers and cafeteria workers, have been without a contract since March. New Democrats are urging the province to work with CUPE and reach a fair agreement before next week.

“These workers do incredibly important work for our kids every single day. They deserve to be treated fairly and have the resources they need to do their jobs,” said Wozney. “We all remember how difficult it was for students, parents and workers during the strike in 2023. The Premier and Minister need to do everything they can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

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