Labour Dispute Closes all NS Schools on Monday

Schools across the province will be closed on Monday. Education Minister Karen Casey made the announcement on Saturday over concerns for student safety. Casey says school board superintendents were concerned students could be left unattended by the work-to-rule job action planned by teachers. The Liberal government will introduce legislation on Monday that would force a contract on the province’s 9,300 teachers and make strike action illegal. With the NDP and Conservative promising to fight the legislation, schools province could remain closed for much of the week if they delay passing of the bill. In a statement N-S-T-U president Liette Doucet says the province is trying to take away the teacher’s collective bargaining rights.