Sask. teachers calling lack of contract vote ‘undemocratic’

Watch above: Saskatchewan teachers are letting off some steam over their latest contract agreement. Amber Rockliffe says they are using their annual convention to air dissatisfaction over the lack of information and inability to vote.

SASKATOON – During their annual convention, some Saskatoon teachers expressed frustration with the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation’s (STF) decision to accept a contract without giving its members the chance to vote.

Jean-Pierre Ducasse teaches students in Grades 10 through 12 at Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon. He said an important, democratic tradition has been broken.

“If teachers are to be a positive, progressive force in our society, they have to be allowed to express themselves, regardless of what the outcomes are,” he explained.

The STF accepted terms of settlement for a new bargaining agreement on behalf of its members last week. After the last several rounds of negotiations, a conciliator was brought in to broker the deal.

READ MORE: Saskatchewan teachers, province agree on new four-year contract

“The conciliator wrote a report, and the report said ‘we think this is an area where there’s common ground … we recommend it strongly to both parties’,” explained Education Minister Don Morgan.

“Yes, I think teachers would’ve preferred to have a vote on this contract, on the other hand, we gave our bargaining team authority to come to an agreement,” said John McGettigan, president of the Saskatoon Teachers Association (STA).

But even after the decision was made, many teachers at the convention said they were kept in the dark.

“They sent out the email that it was going to be announced, and then they just posted it publicly on their website. They didn’t notify the teachers what the agreement was. So that, in itself, is a form of disrespect,” said Michel Levesque, a teacher at City Park Collegiate.

More than 3,000 teachers from Saskatoon’s public and catholic school systems attended the annual convention at TCU Place.

While many are still surprised by the STF’s decision, the STA said many are relieved an agreement was reached.

“I think the democratic right of teachers to have their say in a contract is very important, and I hope this is a unique example of where it’s not exercised,” McGettigan explained.

The contract’s terms include a 7.55 per cent wage increase over four years, and a 0.25 per cent increase in government pension contribution rates.