The Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee has accepted the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation’s invitation to come back to the bargaining table after teachers voted to reject the provinces latest offer.

The offer included an 8 per cent raise over three years and an MOU around class size and complexity, the main sticking point for teachers over the course of bargaining, but STF President Samantha Becotte says it didn’t do enough to address a lack of professional supports.

“In rural areas you might have a mental health counsellor that is shared amongst schools rather than someone full time in the building that students can go to when there is a crisis…We don’t have an adequate number of speech language pathologists where students could get timely access.”

The vote was nearly split, with 55 per cent of teachers turning down the offer. Eighty-eight per cent of teachers took part in the vote, down from just over 92 per cent following the last offer.

Negotiations will resume Wednesday, June 5 for a new provincial collective bargaining agreement.

Sanctions will not be implemented while negotiations are taking place. If there is an impasse in negotiations, sanctions may be imposed with 48 hours’ notice.