Five Nova Scotia universities sue teachers over work-to-rule job action

HALIFAX – Five universities say they are suing the Nova Scotia Teachers Union over the work-to-rule campaign in its ongoing contract dispute with the province.

The five — Acadia, Cape Breton, Mount Saint Vincent, St. Francis Xavier and Sainte-Anne — say the union has violated the Education Act by refusing to supervise student teachers as part of its job action.

In a news release, Kent MacDonald, president and vice-chancellor of St. Francis Xavier, says the “urgency of the situation” required court action to stand up for nearly 600 education students and protect their interests.

“If the job action continues, nearly 300 of our students will not graduate on time, causing harm and risk to their future careers,” MacDonald said.

The five schools say they have launched a lawsuit in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

NSTU president Liette Doucet said Monday the union is aware of the difficult situation teachers are in, and is monitoring and reviewing its directives.

“We want to make sure the futures of our student teachers are not adversely impacted if this situation is not resolved,” she said in a statement.

She said the union is taking a stand to improve school conditions for both current and future teachers, and noted Nova Scotia teachers “rank in the bottom half of Canada in terms of compensation, in spite of paying the second highest tuition rate in Canada.”

MacDonald said the universities have asked the court for an early hearing date and hope an emergency injunction will be granted so education students can begin their teacher practicums “without further delay.”

Doucet said the union asked universities for their contingency plans in December, but still haven’t received any.

Teachers began a work-to-rule campaign on Dec. 5 that had a sweeping effect on school life across Nova Scotia, cancelling shows, trips and sports.

The union edict stipulated teachers should only report for work 20 minutes before class starts and leave 20 minutes after the school day ends.

It had started phasing out the campaign last Monday following a tentative deal, but reinstituted it Friday after a scrap with Premier Stephen McNeil about the purpose of two new “self-directed days.”

Teachers will vote on the agreement Feb. 8. Union members have twice rejected contract agreements recommended by the union executive and voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike.

The teachers’ last contract expired on July 31, 2015.