NSCAD teaching assistants on strike after negotiations fall through

Teaching and research assistants, along with independent course appointees, at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) are on strike after lengthy negotiations failed to produce a collective agreement.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3912 says its bargaining team met with NSCAD for eight hours on Tuesday, which was the scheduled final date to reach a deal.

“The university decided to walk away from the bargaining table and break off negotiations,” a CUPE news release reads. “NSCAD’s bargaining team said they were no longer interested in responding to our demands for fair wages.”

Mary-Dan Johnston with CUPE says there are 70 active members in the bargaining unit who are now on strike.

CUPE previously said its bargaining team met with the university and an appointed conciliator on Feb. 9 and 10

“During this time, we were able to come to an agreement on most of the items in our proposed collective agreement,” CUPE said at the time. “However, there remain some key outstanding items on which no agreement was possible.

“NSCAD workers are asking for a fair and equitable hiring procedure and meaningful job security protections — basic standards the union says are necessary in a first contract.”

Striking workers held a solidarity rally at the Granville Mall on Wednesday morning to kick off the strike.

“CUPE members need the profound insecurity they face addressed,” said Lachlan Sheldrick, vice president of CUPE 3912. “The protections we are looking for are standard at all the other Halifax area universities.”

CUPE says NSCAD teaching assistants, research assistants and independent course appointees voted to unionize in summer 2023.

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