Joan Jessome, the current president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, will not be running again when her term is up next spring.

In a letter to union members and supporters, Jessome said she has mixed emotions.

"This was not an easy decision for me: throughout my decades of involvement with the NSGEU, I believe we have made great strides together and achieved much for the membership and working people of Nova Scotia," she wrote.

Jessome will continue on in her role as president until the convention in mid-May.

"I will be … working to address the privatization threat to many of our members and the ongoing attacks by the McNeil government, as well as ensuring the civil service negotiations are concluded and rounds of health care negotiations begin as planned," she said.

A spokesperson for the NSGEU said Jessome will be running for a secretary treasurer position of the National Union of Public and General Employees next year.

Jessome said she hopes to "make a positive difference in the labour movement at a national level."

Now in her 20th year with the NSGEU and 17th year in the top position, Jessome is serving her eighth term as president. In the full-time position she also works as the union's chief executive officer.