Teachers in Yorkton and across the province spent two more days on strike last week and withdrew voluntary services on Monday.
The Good Spirit School Division's 260 support staff-a grouping that covers education assistants, caretakers, secretaries, and more-also voted 81 percent in favor of job action last week through their union, CUPE Local 4784. Like the teachers, the support workers are calling for better wages and benefits.
Schools were closed for Wednesday and Thursday's teacher walkout, which was the second strike of the month and the second in history for the province's teachers. The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation has asked for a 16.3 percent salary increase over three years, while the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee's offer has not gone above 6.05 percent over the same time period.
The withdrawal of voluntary services on Monday affected responsibilities outside of the teachers' official job descriptions, including sports and extracurricular clubs.
But the service withdrawal and all other job action by STF members was suspended on Tuesday morning when the province appointed a special mediator to assist the two sides in reaching an agreement. Work will continue as usual at schools until the mediation process reaches a resolution.
Negotiations for the CUPE education support workers are handled directly with the Good Spirit School Division, which has offered an increase of 6.25 percent over three years. The union has not specified what job action it might take as a result of its May 24 vote. Those talks resume this month.
Both unions have been without a contract for the entire school year.
