Next week, the union representing teachers in Saskatchewan will decide whether to sanction job action. Samantha Becotte, the president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), stated that the contract discussions are at a deadlock due to the provincial government’s lack of willingness to negotiate critical issues such as class sizes and the mounting complex needs of pupils.
Becotte shared her dissatisfaction with government officials, expressing her disappointment at their refusal to approach the pressing matters in the education sector. She illustrated her point by conveying a message she had received from a rural Saskatchewan school principal, who remarked that their institution had not seen an occupational therapist in nearly a decade.
The STF’s declaration of an impasse legally paves the way for the union to call upon a conciliator to direct the negotiation process, an action Becotte affirmed the union would undertake this week. She highlighted the union’s desire for an agreement that not only considers compensation and benefits but also focuses on teachers’ working conditions, thus inevitably impacting students’ learning conditions.
The existing teachers’ contract, ratified during a turbulent negotiation period overshadowed by the emerging COVID-19 threat in 2020, expired in late August. Past sanctions have led to educators withdrawing from voluntary extracurricular activities, and the union is seeking an affirmative vote from teachers who feel it is time to say, “enough is enough.”
Education Minister of Saskatchewan, Jeremey Cockrill, expressed disappointment with the STF’s decision to pronounce an impasse. During a press meet held in Regina on Monday, Cockrill emphasized the government’s readiness to finalize a deal beneficial for students, families, and teachers province-wide. Still, he indicated that certain critical areas, such as class size and composition, would remain untouched in the bargaining agreement given school divisions are better suited to manage these aspects based on their local community’s needs.
The STF has scheduled its sanctions vote for October 24 and 25. As part of its campaign, the union held a protest in Moose Jaw over the weekend, with similar events in the pipeline for North Battleford and Humboldt.
