The AAU or Atlantic Academic Union is the trade union representing over 1000 Faculty, Librarians, Counsellors, Student Service Advisors, Registrars, and other important Professional Support workers.

The AAU agreement expired on August 31, 2023, and we have been bargaining every week since August 8, 2023.

AAU members are focusing on key issues that would improve the lives and working conditions of our members which ultimately positively impact student success. Faculty and Professional Support workloads have been steadily increasing over the last decade. Many of our members regularly, (not just during peak periods) work 60-70 hours every week including evenings and weekends. These excessive workloads have affected both the physical and mental health of our members, and we are asking that the NSCC Management recognize this excessive work and invest in more front-line employees to do the work for students. Isn’t that the reason the College exists in the first place?

Faculty and Professional Support wages are currently over 13% behind inflation. This is not sustainable if NSCC wants to attract and retain quality Faculty and Professional Support.

While inflation is an issue for almost everyone today, your tax dollars have been going towards a growing administration of the College with high salaries and regular increases. This inflation of Management/Confidential positions is a growing problem in all post-secondary institutions, and once again is not investing in positions which help you to gain success in your education and future careers.

Other important issues for our members which ultimately affect your learning are transparency and involvement of employees in College policy directions, governance and fair hiring, and creating safe and supportive workspaces for all.

When Faculty and Professional Support are overworked and underpaid, it is harder for us to dedicate ourselves to your needs in terms of teaching, counselling, advising, and support.

Having the appropriate number of Faculty and Professional support ensures that classes students need can be offered, that every Faculty member can devote their full attention to their students, that you can see a Counsellor when you need mental health supports and you can get Academic Advising when required.

A successfully functioning college is one in which employees and students understand why decisions are being made and have input into those decisions.

We are asking for the necessary tools, time, and resources to do our jobs effectively and to support all of you, our students.

Members of the AAU did vote 97% in favour of a strike in November. However, a positive strike vote does not necessarily mean we will be going on strike.

We were hoping that this strong strike vote would send a serious message to NSCC Management that our employees are united in our fight for fair wages and working conditions. We are constantly told by NSCC Management that NSCC is an “employer of choice”. We would argue that an employer of choice does not have the highest strike vote in the history of the college.

We understand that this is a difficult and scary time and the last thing you want to experience is getting caught in the middle of someone else’s fight. A strike is bad for everyone. Faculty and PS workers don’t want to go without wages, and they don’t want to see students negatively affected in any way.

The Atlantic Academic Union feels we have done everything we could to resolve issues at the bargaining table.

We are taking another step to resolve negotiations without a strike. Today we have filed for Conciliation with the Province.

Conciliation is the introduction of a neutral third party into the bargaining process who tries to help both sides move towards an agreement. Conciliation is also a legal requirement before any labour action can take place.

We hope to reach a deal during these conciliation meetings that will be acceptable to the NSCC Management without sacrificing the needs of our members. It is our hope that the College administration will also try to make a deal that is fair for our members, and for you, our students.

The honest answer is that it is impossible to know if and when a strike might happen. If NSCC Management responds fairly to our proposals during conciliation, we will be happy to sign off on a new collective agreement.

Whether you support AAU members or simply don’t want to see a strike happen, the most important thing you can do is ask NSCC Management, specifically our President Don Bureaux and Management Negotiation team member and Vice President College Services and Strategy, Anna Burke to get serious about providing a fair deal to our members.

You can click on the blue Email Button and send an email to NSCC Administration.

Once you’ve sent one, you can also encourage your friends and family to do the same.

You can also post on social media and let the NSCC administration know that you support a fair deal.