It has been one week since educational assistants and early childhood educators (ECEs) from Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and South Shore have been on strike, halting classes for pre-primary children and students with disabilities.
On Thursday, about 300 school support workers carried signs as they rallied in front of the Nova Scotia Legislature on Hollis Street in front of Province House.
The Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU) members Local 73 from the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education and Local 70 from South Shore Regional Centre for Education started the rally to raise awareness on the wage conditions of educational assistants and workers.
NSGEU President Sandra Mullen said union members with the same qualifications across all provinces should be paid equal wages.
Sandra Mullen is the president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU). Photo by Sara Gouda.
"Our members are here to make some noise to get their point across, that they deserve to have parity. They deserve to be paid the same for the same work. All of our MLAs here in this province get the same base salary, whether they live here or in Yarmouth or Cape Breton," said NSGEU president Sandra Mullen.
Mullen said she noticed both minor and significant discrepancies.
"We have seen some discrepancies as high as $7 an hour, the minimum wage to start in the valley to come in as an unqualified EA, that same position in another county starts at $17. That's not fair," added Mullen.
She said she has been at the bargaining table since Nov. 21 and has been trying to negotiate a fair wage pattern for about a year.
"We have members from our Annapolis Valley and South Shore on strike. We have our board members, staff, local folks, parents, and family supporting the members who have been out on strike. We probably have close to 400 members here and making sure the members hear their concerns," said Mullen.
Jenna Himmelman (left), Amber Purdy (centre) and Teresa Mulé (right) are early childhood educators at South Shore Regional Centre for Education. Photo by Sara Gouda.
Teresa Mulé, an ECE with the lead primary program at South Shore who has been with the school board for about five years, said the wage parity is "unfair and pretty drastic."
"I know that Halifax alone makes $15,000 more than we do as lead ECEs at the SSRC. So we are fighting for all members for that wage parity," said Mulé.
She added that TAs and educational assistants in the Annapolis Valley aren't currently working.
"Children with autism or disabilities have been told that they have to stay home and they're not allowed to go to school because there is no support there for them. So how's that for inclusion," said Mulé.
Jenna Himmelman, a support ECE for South Shore, said she joined the rally because she wants a livable wage.
"Most of us are mothers, and we're all supporting our families. We can't do that on the wage that we make. So I don't want to have to question- do I need to pay this bill this month or that bill? Or wonder if I can provide for my son this month," said Himmelman.
Amber Purdy has been an early childhood educator since 1993 and has been working as lead ECE at South Shore for the past six years.
"Some of our students that have disabilities that would have just been starting programs with outside agencies in our buildings, can't access these programs. They're not in school," said Purdy.
Mulé said she hopes today's rally will raise awareness since the early years are the most crucial time in a child's development, and that they deserve to be respected and paid equally.
Listen to the full interview below: