Labour Relations FAQ

A collective agreement is a written contract between the university and a union that outlines many of the terms and conditions of employment for employees in a bargaining unit.

Collective bargaining is the framework under which the negotiation of the collective agreement takes place. In this process, a union and an employer negotiate, in good faith, to achieve a collective agreement. Collective bargaining is a process governed by the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act.  

If the parties cannot settle a collective agreement, either party may ask the Minister of Advanced Education to appoint a conciliator to assist the parties to reach an agreement.

Conciliation is the process of intervention in collective bargaining by a neutral third party who is knowledgeable in effective negotiation procedures. This third party is called a “Conciliator.” This person helps bring the parties together to reach a collective agreement but has no authority to make decisions.

A strike vote is undertaken by the union and provides bargaining unit members with the opportunity to vote to give the union a mandate to commence a labour action (strike) in the event the parties reach an impasse in collective bargaining. A successful strike vote is required before a legal labour action can be commenced by the union and does not mean there will be a labour action (strike).

No.  An agreement can be reached at any time after a labour action vote.

A strike is when union ceases work or refuses to work, to slow down, disrupt or stop operations. Strikes occur when a union perceives that conditions of an existing collective agreement have not been met, or when a collective agreement cannot be agreed upon during labour negotiations between a union and the employer. In Canada, unions have a legal right to strike as part of the collective bargaining process, and strikes may occur as part of that process.

A tentative agreement means the negotiating teams for the university and the union have agreed to the terms of a collective agreement, but the terms have not yet been agreed to or “ratified” by either the bargaining unit members or approved by the university’s Board of Governors.

Ratification by the union is the process by which members of the bargaining unit vote to accept or reject the terms of the collective agreement that the university and union have negotiated. The ratification vote happens at the end of collective bargaining after the university and the union have reached a tentative agreement.

A collective agreement is ratified by the university when the tentative agreement is approved by the Board of Governors. Once both parties have ratified the tentative collective agreement, it is signed and becomes the new collective agreement.

There is no memory of students at a post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia losing a semester or more as a result of a strike. 

International students must continue to have valid status as a student in Canada to be able to return to class after a labour dispute is resolved. If you need to apply to extend your study permit during the strike, include a letter from the university Registrar that confirms that the strike has prevented you from attending school and pursuing your studies.  

No. A labour strike is beyond your control and your status as a study permit holder will not be affected. As a result of the strike, you would still be eligible for the Post-graduation work permit program if you meet all the post-graduate work permit requirements.

The Labour Relations webpage will continue to be updated with new developments and will be your main source of accurate and up-to-date information.