The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) declared an impasse and decided to take sanctions vote with hopes the province will return to the negotiations table.
“Unfortunately, we have spent nine days at the bargaining table over the last number of months, and the government has refused to move on any of their positions,” said STF president Samantha Becotte.
“We just continue to hear no. And so, we had to declare an impasse and at the same time decided to take a sanctions vote.”
The next two days, teachers are voting on possible sanctions after the STF said the province has refused to move on any of their positions that teachers are concerned about.
“Like our class complexity and our class sizes, violence in the classroom, Truth and Reconciliation and substitute teacher supports,” said Becotte. “Teachers and students are left trying to manage a situation that has really become unsustainable.”
STF is hoping after the sanctions vote, the province will address the working conditions of teachers, and a renewed investment in public education.
“We’re taking a stand to ensure that our students needs are going to be met and we’re committed to that,” said Becotte. “We need to see a change of course from this government.”
In an email statement to Global News, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education stated their Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) remains at the bargaining table in good faith.
“The GTBC has every intention of continuing to bargain on items relevant to the provincial teacher collective agreement, including salary and benefits,” the statement read.
“Government has and will continue to fund Saskatchewan’s growing schools. This commitment has been demonstrated through investments such as the additional $47 million provided to support increased enrolment, classroom complexity, and educational assistants this school year.
“With this funding, Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive a record investment of almost $2.1 billion for the 2023-24 school year, an increase of $89.4 million or 4.5 per cent over the 2022-23 school year.”
The province added at the request of the STF, a conciliation board will be established in the coming weeks to assist the bargaining committees in reaching a new collective agreement.