Saskatchewan teachers plan one-day strike

Saskatchewan teachers are counting down the days until they strike.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is giving five days notice before an upcoming one-day strike on Tuesday, saying it wanted to give parents and families some advanced notice.

The legal requirement for teachers to give notice of job action is 48 hours, but the STF said it hopes this extra time gives the provincial government a chance to change course.

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“The last thing any teacher wants is for negotiations to impact the school year, so we are exhausting every possible option to get government back to the table,” says Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation president Samantha Becotte.

“At every turn, teachers have said that committees are getting us nowhere on these urgent issues, and a new deal must include items to address class size and complexity. Government remains intransigent, even after conciliation. This is not bargaining; they are making decisions based on politics and student learning is suffering for it.”

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A virtual parent and caregiver information night is being held on Sunday at 7 p.m. with registration on STF’s website.

“Teachers and parents are united in wanting the best for their kids,” says Becotte.

“We want to provide families with as much information as possible. This is a fight for the future of publicly funded education in Saskatchewan, and schools need the support of our communities. I encourage everyone across the province to reach out to your neighbours and friends, contact your elected officials, and let them know that the students of this province deserve a government that will provide them with the resources they desperately need.”

Becotte said they wouldn’t announce further strikes yet and that their goal is to get an agreement.

She said school boards should calling on the government to go back to the bargaining table with a renewed mandate, adding that they should want the same things as the teachers.

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Global News reached out to the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, who redirected any questions to the Ministry of Education, saying the SSBA represents boards on the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill sent a statement shortly after the strike announcement, saying they continue to sit at the bargaining table.

“Outside of that process, we have demonstrated our commitment to addressing classroom complexity with record funding, and two brand new pilot projects announced just this week,” Cockrill said.

He said disrupting the learning of students is not in their best interest, claiming they put forward a fair deal for teachers and are discussing competitive wages.

“The Government Trustee Bargaining Committee would like to continue discussing competitive salary and benefits but cannot with the STF refusing to return to the table.”

Serena Millan is a grade 12 student in Saskatoon and said she is extremely frustrated with the education situation in Saskatchewan.

“Finals are about a week or two away, so losing that valuable class time is frustrating,” Millan said.

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She said teachers deserve a fair deal.

“We’re struggling, honestly, with the lack of educational assistants and resources and the huge class sizes. It’s impossible to get help from teachers when there’s 39 other students and you’re only one.”

Millan said teachers are doing the best that they can but they definitely need assistance.

She said there’s been an increase in violence within classrooms, adding many students are frustrated they can’t get help.

Millan hopes with the strike that teachers get a deal that both parties are happy with and that teachers feel like they’ve been heard and understood.