Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation mulls sanctions after contract talks break down

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) is contemplating its next steps after contract talks with the province broke down.

The STF said on Jan. 24 that no progress was made during the four days spent in conciliation between the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee (TBC) and the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC).

STF president Patrick Maze said a sanctions vote has been endorsed by the executive.

“Our members have been clear: class complexity and salary are the two most important issues,” Maze said Thursday in a statement.

“Taking a sanctions vote is not a decision taken lightly; however, after nine months of bargaining, government has been unwilling to negotiate class complexity or move from its original salary offer.”

Saskatchewan’s Education Minister Gord Wyant said on Jan. 31 he’s disappointed the STF walked away from conciliation talks last week.

He added teachers in the province should have a chance to vote on a contract proposal before a planned sanctions vote.

“No one should be under any illusion. That this is a strike vote. And so at the end of the day I don’t think anybody wants to see teachers on the picket line, I don’t think parents want to see teachers on the picket line and I don’t think it’s good for students,” Wyant said on Jan. 31.

A vote will take place on Feb. 10 and 11, with the results expected later in the month.

The STF said the bargaining committee will determine any sanctions if there is a vote in favour of taking such action. Possible sanctions include refusing to do extra-curricular work to a full-scale walkout, the STF said.

The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee is seeking a pay hike of eight per cent over three years — two per cent, three per cent and three per cent — after teachers went two years without a salary increase.

The province has pitched a one-time extra $1,500 payment funded from the teacher’s health plan in the first year of the contract, followed by two per cent raises in 2020 and 2021.

The STF also wants to address classroom size and composition at the bargaining table, but the Saskatchewan government instead said those issues need be addressed through a committee.

The province has since formed a committee tasked with addressing classroom size and composition.

The STF was offered a seat on the committee but declined. Maze has said that he sees it as bad faith bargaining as the STF wants the discussion to be part of the bargaining process.

The current STF contract expired on Aug. 31, 2019.

-With files from Tyler Marr