TIMELINE OF NEGOTIATIONS
Date
June 18, 2015

Detail
Notice to Bargain received from NSTU.

July 31, 2015

Expiry of Collective Agreement (Term: August 1, 2012 – July 31, 2015)

September 29, 2015

Exchange of Proposals: Government position was a 2% wage increase over
five years, and phasing out the Public Service Award. The NSTU counter
offered with a proposal for a 3% wage increase over four years. Government
agreed. The NSTU requested that Public Service Award be calculated based
on wage levels at retirement rather than wages at April 1, 2015. Government
agreed.

November 12, 2015

Tentative Agreement reached. NSTU leadership recommended the agreement
to its membership.

December 1, 2015

NSTU membership rejected tentative agreement.

December 7, 2015

NSTU invited Education and Early Childhood Development back to the
bargaining table.

January 17, 2016

Bargaining resumed. Government position included keeping the agreed to
wage package and changed to the phasing out of the public service award.

June 2, 2016

Education and Early Childhood Development filed for Conciliation.

September 2, 2016

Tentative Agreement reached.

October 4, 2016

Ratification – NSTU membership rejected tentative agreement.

October 17, 2016

Government asks for the continuation of the Partnership on Systemic Working
Conditions to address classroom issues to make sure that work could continue.
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On October 19 , the NSTU agreed to keep working on classroom issues
outside of negotiations.

October 25, 2016

NSTU Strike Vote – NSTU membership voted 96% in favour of strike.

October 27, 2016

NSTU writes letter requesting a conciliation board. Government responded that
it would go back to the table, but the wage offer would remain the same.

November 1, 2016

Timeline for appointment of conciliation board elapsed; NSTU declines
conciliation board, stating they would not go back to the table with
preconditions.

November 3, 2016

NSTU writes letter requesting the appointment of a Mediation Officer.

November 8, 2016

The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development announced that
provincial assessments would be suspended until the working group had
determined a way forward.

November 9, 2016

The NSTU said they would postpone their involvement on classroom issues
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and not attend a meeting scheduled for November 10 .

November 10, 2016

The Minister of Labour and Advanced Education declined the NSTU request for
mediation, citing that mediation was unlikely to resolve the issue.

November 17, 2016

Conciliation officer invites NSTU back to table; NSTU accepts.

November 21, 2016

Conciliation: In addition to everything in its previous offers, government put
forward $10 million to be dedicated to classroom issues and working
conditions, with direction on spending to be determined by the partnership
group of teachers, the NSTU, school board and the department.

November 25, 2016

Conciliation talks break off.