The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is taking the next steps in job action as it attempts to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the provincial government.
Starting Thursday, there will be rotating full day strikes by a number of school divisions across the province.
The striking associations include:
- all Horizon Valley School Division schools
- all Prairie South School Division schools
- all Prince Albert Catholic School Division schools
- all Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division schools
- all Light of Christ Catholic School Division schools
- all Living Sky School Division schools
- Sakewew High School (North Battleford)
Schools represented by the Conseil des écoles Fransaskoises in the geographic areas of these divisions will also take part in job action as will teachers with the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre who work at a campus within the areas listed.
“Where is the Minister of Education?” STF president Samantha Becotte said Monday. “People are doing everything they can to bring their concerns to his attention, but he still refuses to listen.”
Around 35,000 students will be affected by Thursdays rotating strike and around 3,000 STF members.
Over the last two weeks, two one-day strikes have occurred province wide.
Becotte did not say when more rotating strikes could occur, or which school divisions would be included next. She says it is up to the government to get back to the table to stop further action.
“We would be willing to return to the table morning, night or on the weekends. But we need to do it in good faith.”
Becotte said Saskatchewan people have sent over 30,000 emails to the government in less than three weeks.
“These are just the emails we know of,” Becotte said. “When this government received 18 letters from parents this fall, they called an emergency session of the legislature to invoke the notwithstanding clause and circumvent the constitution.”
“They only seem concerned about the issues that fit within their political agenda. It is mystifying that they believe this can continue.”
STF has been adamant about adding issues like classroom complexity and composition to the bargaining agreement. Those are issues the provincial government says it refuses to move on.
“The teachers have a very valid concern that they’re bringing forward,” said Donna Harpauer, Minister of Finance and public sector bargaining chair. “The difference is what belongs at the collective bargaining table normally is wages, pensions, benefit programs.”
The government has said school boards are the ones with authority over class size and complexity.
“(The) government’s claim that teachers’ working conditions, which are students’ learning conditions, do not belong in collective bargaining is simply untrue, as these matters are included in agreements in other provinces,” STF said in a release.
“(The) government’s claim is also counter to the Conciliation Board’s report, which delivered its recommendations earlier this month.”
According to the government, the two sides have not met for negotiations in quite some time. The two parties last met at the table on Oct. 13, 2023, before having five days of conciliation between Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 2023.
On Monday, the Ministry of Education said in a statement that the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) has put forward a fair, initial offer for teachers with a 7 per cent raise over three years.
“A fair deal for teachers must also be a fair deal for taxpayers,” the statement read. “Saskatchewan taxpayers already contribute the most per capita to education in the country and right now the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation is asking for a salary increase of 2 per cent plus the Consumer Price Index each and every year, for four years. That amounts to a 23.4% increase.”
“We also know that affordability is top of mind for families right now, which is why a fair deal for teachers must also be a fair deal for taxpayers. The GTBC remains at the table, ready to discuss competitive salary and benefits but cannot negotiate without the STF at the table as well.”
When it comes to classroom sizes and complexity, the government said they are actively working to address the issues with other investments and projects.
“We are doing exactly what we said we would with a $53.1 million investment towards enrolment and complexity, a teacher-led innovation and support fund, and specialized support classroom pilot projects.”
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