To our fellow CUPE members in the education sector, we are now well into bargaining! The bargaining teams of all eight NSSBCU locals have met with their respective employers at least twice since May. But before negotiations started, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) informed us that they did not want to negotiate provincial proposals at a common table, as before. In previous contract negotiations, Regional Centres for Education (RCEs) met with local bargaining committees to discuss local proposals, but also came together to meet with the provincial bargaining committee to negotiate provincial proposals at a common table. Instead, the EECD has indicated that common proposals will be negotiated at local tables. But having a provincial bargaining team negotiate common proposals helps us ensure consistency in common issues across the eight RCEs in Nova Scotia and it helps us present a united front to the employer. So, … Read more…