Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia has announced that an agreement in principle has been reached with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) following intense negotiations that included conciliation talks starting last Monday. The agreement, still needing some final drafting, aims to address significant issues such as teacher compensation, workload, classroom violence, and mental health supports for students.

The negotiations, which took a crucial turn on Monday, saw an overwhelming 98% of NSTU members voting in favor of a strike mandate, prompting Houston to personally join the late discussions. Houston expressed confidence that the new contract will make substantial investments in improving student outcomes and classroom conditions. He noted, “We heard the call that students can’t wait,” emphasizing the urgency and importance of the agreement.

Ryan Lutes, president of the NSTU, communicated to members via email about the progress made in the talks. According to Lutes, the agreement in principle focuses on enhancing the educational environment for both students and teachers, addressing the escalating issue of violence in classrooms alongside other concerns.

Premier Houston highlighted that while the agreement has been principally settled, the finalization process involves careful scrutiny to ensure all negotiated terms are correctly reflected in the contract. He reassured that the government is dedicated to ensuring that the agreement effectively meets the needs articulated during the negotiations.

Via release