Halifax-area students skip class in support of striking school workers

Supporters say school is not the same as long as the 1,800 staff members are on strike including Educational Program Assistants (EPAs), support workers, and pre-primary teachers.

There is still no sign that school support workers might be back in the classroom anytime soon. Another walkout was staged in the Halifax region on Friday.

Supporters say school is not the same as long as the 1,800 staff members are on strike including Educational Program Assistants (EPAs), support workers, and pre-primary teachers.

Organizer Teagan Archer-Perrell says she called on students to skip class to stand in solidarity with kids and workers who cannot attend school during the strike.

She wanted to give families the opportunity to show their support.

“Really just to try to drum up a conversation,” says Archer-Perrell, “Showing that the parents who are not directly impacted by this still care and they see what we see.”

Her six-year-old son has non-verbal autism and has not been in class since workers took to the picket lines over a week ago.

“There have been some offers for like an hour here or there, but it’s just not suitable,” explains Archer-Perrell. “Unfortunately, until the strike is resolved, we are at home.”

One group of students walked an hour from Ross Road School to the picket line set up outside Cole Harbour High. They say they wanted to show their support for everyone impacted.