?om 

I also want to make it clear that there will still be
reform in the system as outlined by Me 3R: plan. We?ve
seen evidence of this through changes to the to 3
curriculum, report card changes, etc. What has been
eliminated are the egregious items found on page 17 of
the plan, that would have required changes to the TPA.
Most of those items will not be implemented without
agreement from the NSTU.

Some NSTU members have expressed concern about
learning of this tentative agreement through the media
and not the NSTU. I want to assure you that this was
not our intention. On November 6, the provincial
executive was informed of a meeting to talte place on
November 12 to discuss negotiations. A negotiations
bulletin was prepared and posted to the NSTU website,
but unfortunately due to human error was not emailed
to members. On November 12, your negotiating team
met at 9:00 am and reviewed the proposal. Members
of the Government?s negotiating team saw the proposal
for the ?rst time at 10:00 am. A meeting between both
parties began at 1 1:00 am and the proposal was agreed
to and signed off by the negotiators. lhe provincial
executive met at 2:00 pm and after a discussion
voted to accept the tentative agreement, and passed a
motion that public school members accept the tentative
agreement at approximately 5:30 pm.

At approximately 4:00 pm that day, while the
provincial executive was still meeting, we believe that
news of the tentative agreement was leaked because
media started reporting through social media that ?a deal

  

ef Word

In our effort to continually support reduction of paper, transportation costs etc., NSTU members now receive a link to

A Brief Word through NSTU webmail only. Ple'se ensure you have an NSTU web account.



Nova Scotia
Teachers Union

     

November 18, 2015

had been reached.? From 5:30 pm to approximately 7:00
pm a joint news release was developed, and Government
released it at 7:15 pm without the final review
or approval. Emails to public school members started at
7:55 pm. By the time NSTU members were receiving
news about the tentative agreement it had already been
reported on social and traditional media.

Our operational procedures determine how and
when we share information with our membership. This
includes no release of information prior to a provincial
executive meeting, and no release of details until the ?rst
regional meeting has taken place. We are aware that this
procedure may hamper our ability to get information
to members in a timely fashion, and a review of this
procedure will take place at an upcoming provincial
executive meeting.

The information provided in this Brief Word was also
presented at regional meetings on November 17 and 18.
In the face of impending draconian legislation it
was decided to recommend acceptance of this offer.

Your provincial executive believes that while the
process to reach this negotiated tentative agreement
was not optimal, it is necessary under the current
circumstances, and we urge you to vote in favour of
this agreement.

An electronic ratification vote is scheduled for
December 1. Voting keys are available through your
NSTU rep. We encourage all public school members

to vote in favour of this tentative agreement.