Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) faculty and support staff could end up on the picket lines as soon as Monday.

The latest talks failed to produce enough progress to reach a new deal.

It would be the first strike in the history of the college.

The Atlantic Academic Union (AAU) represents nearly 1,100 staff members at colleges from Yarmouth to Cape Breton.

“This was a pivotal day to try to avert a strike and achieve agreement and half the day was wasted by purposeful college delays,” said Thompson Graham. “ We walked away from the table at this point to await response to our final offer”.

At midnight on Friday, the college emailed another final offer and but it was turned down.

The union and NSCC have been negotiating a new collective agreement since August 2023.

Meantime, the college says it remains focused on reaching an agreement that strengthens the working and learning environment.

“We are making every effort to minimize the impact a strike would have on students, employees and the full NSCC community.”

Talks initially broke down January 19 and provincial conciliators were appointed but further negotiations failed to produce a deal.