The President of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation says they are ready to get back to the bargaining table and have invited the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to meet Monday and Tuesday. Just over 92 per cent of teachers voted against the proposed contract from the government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. Samantha Becotte explains that there was nothing legally binding in the proposal around class size and complexity.
She believes this result shows the high level of unity among teachers. They are more engaged than Becotte has ever seen. She says, “Definitely in my experience being involved with the Federation, but everywhere I go, I hear from teachers about the need to address these issues.”
Becotte notes that the province has been touting the amount being spent on education, but she says there is more to the story with under-funding over the past ten years, and increasing challenges with class size and complexity, “And even recently we have seen some school boards talking about how the current budget isn’t even enough to maintain the status quo. “We are talking about a crisis in education and they can’t even keep the same level of services and are looking at what more can be cut.”
In response to the Minister of Education commenting that he wants to better understand the priorities and interests of teachers, Becotte suggests it sounds encouraging on the surface, but, “This comment displays the high level of indifference this government has shown over the last year of bargaining.” STF’s President says if an agreement can’t be reached, she hopes the government will consider binding arbitration for a fair, judicial, unbiased path forward.
There have been some comments from the government about possibly having to extend the school year because of previous job actions and the rotating strikes. Becotte says that is not their decision, and she will be disappointed if that’s the choice they make. She adds that if the province had moved on class size and complexity at all, they wouldn’t need job action.
No new sanctions announced at this point, and 48 hours’ notice will be given if there is.
Earlier on May 10th
With 92.2 per cent of Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation members casting a ballot on the government’s final contract offer, 90 per cent of them said no to the deal.
STF members cast ballots over a two-day period this week and the union has now extended an invitation to the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to return to the table, with a new mandate, on May 13 and 14th.
STF President Samantha Becotte says teachers need a deal that will provide support to teachers and students beyond an election cycle. Becotte notes that school divisions are finalizing their budgets for next year and she says the boards are indicating “that funding is still grossly insufficient.”
The STF urges members of the public to join teachers on calling on the government to negotiate with a new mandate that properly addresses issues the union has indicated are important.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill says he is disappointed by the result of the vote. He describes the deal as a fair agreement that was negotiated between the government, school divisions and STF and that it reflected the best interests of Saskatchewan students, teachers, parents and taxpayers. He also said both sides need to get back to the bargaining table immediately to avoid further sanctions that could jeopardize instructional time and milestone events for students.
Opposition leader Carla Beck says the no-vote sends a message to the Saskatchewan government that it has failed the education system and its time for change.
