Binding arbitration could be used in Saskatchewan teacher talks

Saskatchewan Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says binding arbitration could be used in talks between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee.

The announcement was made Friday morning after teachers voted against a tentative agreement brought forward by the province for the second time.

Binding arbitration would involve a submission of the dispute to a neutral party, who would provide a middle ground to the province and the union.

According to a release from the STF on Thursday evening, 55 per cent of teachers opposed the agreement with 88 per cent of eligible members voting over the last two days.

1:32 Teachers vote a ‘message showing lack of trust,’ STF president says

STF members started voting Wednesday after the government announced earlier in May that a tentative deal had been reached between the bargaining committees.

Cockrill said that he’s disappointed with the results of the teacher vote and that a new path forward must be found.

“That path forward is binding arbitration and we are prepared to resume discussions with the STF immediately to define and move forward with binding arbitration so that we can all get an agreement done,” Cockrill said.

He said that binding arbitration would ensure that there wouldn’t be any further job action in the school year, adding that things like field trips can go ahead as planned.

“I think everyone in this situation wants to get an agreement done.”

He stressed that clarity needs to be provided to families who may be concerned about what this rejection of the tentative agreement could mean for kids.

Cockrill claimed that both sides of the bargaining table felt comfortable with the last tentative agreement and that good progress was made.

He said that binding arbitration is a process outside of traditional bargaining and that details around it would need to be hashed out between the two sides.

An arbitration board would be created with a single member from each bargaining committee who will appoint a mutually agreeable chair.

When asked about whether the school year would get extended into the summer, Cockrill acknowledged that education hours have been impacted, but he wouldn’t give a definitive answer.

“Nobody wants to go to summer school.”

STF president Samantha Becotte rehashed what has been going on in the bargaining dispute that’s been going on for over a year.

Becotte said the offer of binding arbitration was brought forward by the STF in mid-March, but were instead presented the government’s final offer.

She said the results of the teacher vote showed that teachers have little trust in the government’s commitments.

Teachers have brought forward issues around classroom size and complexity throughout this bargaining process, and Becotte once again called for a negotiated agreement that recognized these issues.

“We have extended an invitation for the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) to return to the table with a renewed mandate,” Becotte said.

STF announced later on Friday that the GTBC accepted the invitation, saying negotiations with the province will resume Wednesday for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Becotte said the recent discussions with the GTBC have had a change in tone with members seeming to want to come to a deal. Becotte said she hoped those discussions could continue and come forward with a firm commitment to address concerns from teachers.

When asked if the STF was being questioned by teachers after it endorsed this most recent agreement, Becotte said the STF was still confident that it could advocate for teachers.

— with files from Brooke Kruger and Andrew Benson