NSCC students, administrators hope to avoid strike

Students and administration at Nova Scotia Community College are hoping a strike can still be avoided after teachers and support workers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday in favour of job action to back their wage demands.

The college is planning for a strike while working to resolve the impasse, said NSCC director of marketing and communications Gina Brown on Wednesday.

"One thing we have to keep in mind is that it doesn't necessarily mean that a strike will take place," Brown said. "They have voted in favour of a strike, but that's another step in their process that they are exercising which is part of the collective bargaining process."

The college will continue to operate as usual, she said.

"Right now, we're carrying on business as usual, we want to minimize disruption because we know people may be a bit concerned. But, what we're looking for is resolution. If and when we do get to a strike, we will roll out a plan," Brown said.

Alan Vaughn, 54, began the two-year information technology course at the Leeds Street campus in Halifax three weeks ago.

He said he's a "little disappointed" that teachers have voted in favour of a strike.

"I'm certainly hoping that they avoid a strike, but that's entirely up to them," he said. "I'm hoping that it doesn't happen."

Vaughn said if classes are disrupted, it will put "a wrinkle" in his plans to upgrade his skills and find a new job.

"It means it'll be that much more harder to catch up, should classes be disrupted," he said.

In electronic balloting held across the province Tuesday, faculty members voted 93 per cent in favour of a walkout, and support workers voted 90 per cent in favour of joining job action, according to a release. Turnout was high for the strike vote, with 91 per cent of faculty workers turning out to vote, while 96 per cent of support workers cast ballots.

They are asking for a 2.9 per cent pay increase in each of two years, and some insurance benefits, the same deal the province struck with 10,000 public school teachers.

As many as 26,000 students at 13 community college campuses around the province will be affected if there is a strike.