Categories of Membership

NSTU Guidebook Excerpt

Section II – By-Laws of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union

Article I – Membership

1. Definitions

Members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (hereinafter referred to as the "NSTU" or the "Union") shall consist of Active Members, Reserve Members, Retired Members, Associate Members, Honourary Members, and Substitute Teacher Members.

2. Active Member

1. 1. An Active Member is a teacher:
      1. as described in Section 12 of the Teaching Profession Act; or,
      2. employed by the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA); and,

      3. pays an annual Union Membership Fee as fixed from time-to-time by Council.

   2. The rights of Active Membership shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. benefits as provided through NSTU as bargaining agent;
      2. request legal assistance in instances resulting from problems arising in the performance of duties;
      3. professional counselling within education;
      4. vote and hold office at the local and provincial level;
      5. attend Council as outlined in Article II of these By-Laws;
      6. membership in Professional Associations, including the right to hold office;
      7. membership in the NSTU Group Insurance Plan, in accordance with the provisions of the plan;
      8. membership on NSTU committees, where elected or appointed; and,

      9. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website.

   3. Failure to pay Union Membership Fees will not limit contractual rights as long as a contractual and legal relationship exists with the bargaining unit employer.

3. Reserve Member

1. 1. A Reserve Member is a teacher or other qualified person engaged on a day-to-day basis to take the place of a person regularly employed as a teacher by an Education Entity as defined by the Education Act, who has been employed as such for not less than fifteen (15) days in the preceding and/or the current school year, and who:
      1. is employed on a day-to-day basis by an education entity as defined by the Education Act to take the place of a regularly employed teacher;
      2. pays an annual Union Membership Fee as fixed from time-to-time by Council; and,

      3. pays per diem Union Membership Fees as fixed from time-to-time by Council.

   2.  The rights of Reserve Membership shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. benefits as provided through NSTU as bargaining agent;
      2. request legal assistance in instances resulting from problems arising in the performance of duties;
      3. professional counselling within education;
      4. vote at the local and provincial level;
      5. attend Council as outlined in Article II of these By-Laws;
      6. membership in Professional Associations, except the right to hold office;
      7. membership in the NSTU Group Insurance Plan, in accordance with the provisions of the plan;
      8. membership on NSTU committees, where elected or appointed; and,
      9. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website.

4. Retired Member

1. 1. A Retired Member may be a person who has retired under a provision of the Teachers’ Pension Act.

   2. A person included in the Faculty and Professional Support Bargaining Units of the Nova Scotia Community College who retires under a provision of the Teachers’ Pension Act on or before June 30, 2018 may be a Retired Member.

   3. A manager as defined in the Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Act who retires under a provision of the Teachers’ Pension Act after August 1, 2018 may be a Retired Member while the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia (PSAANS) remains affiliated with the NSTU.

   4. A person included in the Faculty and Professional Support Bargaining Units of the Nova Scotia Community College who has retired under a provision of the Public Service Superannuation Plan on or before June 30, 2018 may be a Retired Member.

   5. The rights of Retired Membership shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. membership in the Retired Teachers Organization (RTO);
      2. attend Council as outlined in Article II of these By-Laws;
      3. membership in the NSTU Group Insurance Plan, in accordance with the provisions of the plan; and,
      4. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website.

5. Associate Member

1. 1. An Associate Member may be:
      1. an Active Member on a leave of absence;
      2. a member of the faculty of a provincial university; or,
      3. an education student at a university; and,

      4. who pays an annual Union Membership Fee as fixed from time-to-time by Council.

   2. The rights of Associate Membership shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. membership in Professional Associations, except the right to hold office;
      2. attend Council as outlined in Article II of these By-Laws;
      3. membership in the NSTU Group Insurance Plan, in accordance with the provisions of the plan; and,
      4. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website

6. Honourary Member

1. 1. An Honourary Member is a person upon whom the honour has been conferred by a resolution of Council.

   2. The rights of Honourary Membership shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. attend Council as outlined in Article II of these By-Laws; and,
      2. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website

7. Substitute Teacher Member

1. 1. A teacher or other qualified person who is employed on a day-to-day basis by an education entity as defined by the Education Act to take the place of a regularly employed teacher who is not a Reserve Member will be a Union Member as a Substitute Teacher Member on the day(s) they teach.

   2. These Members pay a per diem Union Membership Fee as fixed from time-to-time by Council.

   3. A Substitute Teacher Member, who can prove employment by an education entity to the satisfaction of the NSTU, shall have rights of Membership that include, but not necessarily be limited to the right to:
      1. benefits as provided through NSTU as bargaining agent;
      2. request legal assistance in instances resulting from problems arising in the performance of duties; and,
      3. access NSTU publications and materials, as assigned, on the NSTU website.

To apply, you can either submit your application and remit payment online, or by downloading the application form and faxing the completed form to (902) 477-3517.

NSTU Associate Membership Application Form

NSTU Associate Membership Application Form

NSTU Reserve Membership Application Form