It’s my Parting Shot to substitute some Weekend Short Shots for my take on something that I didn’t have any skin involved with, until yesterday…..
Since my wife and I weren’t able to have children, the labour dispute between the province’s teachers and the Sask Party Government has been something that I haven’t paid too much attention to.
Until now!
So, the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation has asked Scott Moe, Jeremy Cockrill and company to have the issues of class size and complexity be decided through binding arbitration. If the province agrees to that, there would be no further job action by the STF and they would return to the bargaining table to engage in the less contentious issues towards coming up with a new collective bargaining agreement.
But, if the government doesn’t agree to binding arbitration on class size and complexity, then the STF will continue with job action that will put extra-curricular activities on hold or cancelled altogether – such as graduations and HOOPLA!
As a sports person, the last word strikes a nerve with me and I’m not sure which side I should be upset with! The veiled threat, sort of like blackmail, from the teacher’s union doesn’t sit well with me. However, does the apparent lack of action and response from an arrogant-appearing government!
From the outside, the issue of class size and complexity is obviously the big one, but I have a couple of questions for both sides with regards to it!
Do the teachers want nothing to do with school board autonomy? Or maybe they don’t trust school boards to do what’s right with the funding they get towards looking after class size and complexity? Sure seems that way!
Does the government not want to be a part of the solution when, maybe they should be? Or is STF president and spokesperson Samantha Becotte someone that the Sask Party wants nothing to do with? Again, sure seems that way!
Whatever the case, I feel badly for the students who are caught in the middle The Grade 12s who may not get a grad and all the work by high school basketball teams across the province being for nothing because there might not be HOOPLA!
From this person, with no skin in the game, it’s time for the grown-ups on both sides to grow up!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..
