War of words continues between Premier McNeil, union president

By Dan Ahlstrand

HALIFAX — As students resumed classes this morning, both sides in the labour dispute between the province and its teachers seem to be digging in their heels.

The province closed schools Monday after student safety concerns were raised over the Nova Scotia Teachers Union’s planned work-to-rule campaign. The McNeil government threatened back-to-work legislation only to recess the provincial legislature and re-open schools Tuesday.

Premier Stephen McNeil told the Rick Howe Show Tuesday he had eight superintendents from school boards across the province tell him student safety was at risk.

“The work-to-rule was way beyond a working-to-rule to the contract,” said McNeil. “It was completely in violation of the Education Act. That’s what led to last Friday, when superintendents said ‘Wait a second, this has gone way beyond a work-to-rule, this is a strike.'”

The Premier stopped short of calling the union dishonest, but said they are not telling the whole truth about what happened on their end Monday morning. The Premier suggested he was talking with union executive members before the vote to recess.

“I’m negotiating with two of their own members yesterday and they’re telling you they’re not. They are doing that for political reason. It wasn’t about getting kids back in classrooms, which is what I was trying to do yesterday. It was more about saving face with their own membership.”

The Premier said he will close schools again if student safety is in jeopardy.

“There are so many battles going on with this group, I can’t figure it out,” said McNeil. “I can tell you, teachers I know? This union doesn’t represent them.”

Union: Safety concerns were addressed Friday afternoon

President of the NSTU, Liette Doucet, later told the Rick Howe Show the union let the province know superintendents concerns had been addressed almost 18 hours before the Saturday morning news conference announcing Monday’s school closure.

“In an email at 5:08 on Friday afternoon, we sent a memo out to our members and the government already knew that. They knew about those changes before 11 a.m. on Saturday.”

Doucet also said she is confused as to why the Premier would believe work-to-rule isn’t a strike. She said it is job action and it is the same as an all-out strike.

The union president said her members remain united in their effort for a new contract.

“I can tell you there is absolutely no division. We hear from teachers every day … we know what the concerns are.”

Doucet said the union’s executive committee is meeting today to talk about the on-going dispute and could decide to return to the bargaining tables… something the Premier said the province has never left.

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