"PRESS PAUSE" on the hiring process for the new Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

The members of TAC 2.0 believe that some past hires and non-hires (Executive Director's position Aug 2017) by the current Provincial Executive and Personnel Committee have ignored possible conflict of interest issues and NSTU procedures, and we fear this trend is continuing with the current Executive Director search.

The NSTU has selected Gerald Walsh and Associates to recruit candidates for the position of Executive Director. This agency previously employed Paul Bennett as their Educational Advisor. Gerald Walsh ran as a Liberal candidate under Stephen McNeil in 2009. Mr. Walsh will be personally involved in the selection process of our Executive Director. Ronald Pink, legal counsel for the NSTU, made a significant contribution to Mr. Walsh's campaign in 2009. The relationship between Ron Pink and Gerald Walsh gives rise to concerns around ethics, and at least the perception of possible conflicts of interest.

Details of the tenure for bids have not been shared with the membership. What other recruiting companies submitted offers? Did any? Details of the selection process of the search agency have not been shared with the membership. What criteria was used to select the firm hired? This information has been requested by the membership to various Provincial Executive members; it has not been forthcoming. There appears to be an unacceptable lack of transparency surrounding this process.

The Personnel Committee appears to be proceeding with the selection of a new Executive Director with undue haste. TAC 2.0 believes the search needs to be more deliberate, and more carefully planned. Why is the Personnel Committee rushing toward the appointment of a new Executive Director prior to the instalment of a new Provincial Executive. (August 2018)? Given the level of member dissatisfaction with our union, we believe that even a perceived conflict of interest should be avoided. We question the need to fill the vacancy so hastily, and at this time.

We, the undersigned members of the NSTU, request that the President and the Provincial Executive of the NSTU:

1) Press PAUSE on the present hiring process for a new Executive Director;

2) Assign the responsibility for selecting and hiring the new Executive Director to the Personnel Committee appointed in August 2018;

3) Direct the current Executive Director to remove herself from all aspects of the search process due to the potential for conflict of interest, and to abide by her resignation letter of 2017.