by The province’s teachers have overwhelmingly voted to reject a third tentative contract offer.
The Teachers Union says 78.5 percent of teachers cast ballots to turn down the deal.
It adds voter turnout was 106 per cent, with substitute and active reserve teachers also voting on the deal.
The union says its provincial executive will meet next week to discuss their options.
Union president Liette Doucet says she doesn’t think she or any other members of the executive should step down in the wake of the vote.
She blames the outcome on what she describes as the government’s unwillingness to make the improvements teachers are asking for.
A main outstanding issue in the labour dispute is working conditions.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Karen Casey says the result of the vote is disappointing.
She adds the offer included a fair wage and showed the government was willing to make more investments in classrooms.
She goes on to say the government will now take time to consider its next step.
The union says the teachers’ work-to-rule campaign that started on December 5th will continue.