The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee is disappointed by government’s repeated attempts to undermine collective bargaining by focusing on salary rather than first addressing the urgent needs related to class complexity. Government’s direct involvement is unprecedented and seriously calls into question the authority of the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to negotiate on their behalf.
“Students are paying the price for government’s underfunding,” said Patrick Maze, President of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. “These are serious issues that need to be addressed with real solutions. Government has the power and means to solve this problem, it just needs the will.”
With this release issued by the STF late Wednesday, it would appear then that the sanctions issued by the STF will stand starting on Thursday, March 12, “until further notice”. This will include cancellation of all after-school clubs, music and drama groups, and sports, including the provincial high school regionals that had been set for this weekend.
In a statement from the provincial government on Wednesday, they have anoffer of a $1,500 one-time payment for teachers in the first year and a two-per-cent salary increase in each of the next three years, which would give teachers a salary that is 105 per cent of the Western Canadian average. This is in addition to the one-per-cent salary increase that teachers received on August 31, 2019, the last day of the previous contract.
In addition to this offer, the government committed funds that will be applied to composition challenges that have been identified by Saskatchewan teachers. A Class Size and Composition Committee, which was formed last fall, has met several times to develop a framework for class size and composition. The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) was invited to participate however, chose not to.
As government refuses to address class complexity in provincial collective bargaining negotiations, the Federation met in good faith with Minister Wyant directly to find immediate solutions to address students’ needs, as recommended by the Conciliation Board. Minister Wyant declined the offer to schedule a followup meeting to continue this important conversation.
The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee has explicitly stated to both Education Minister Gord Wyant and the GTBC that it will not return to the table until there is a firm commitment from government to adequately address class complexity challenges.
“We hope government will meet its obligations and provide adequate funding so students have the resources they need,” said Maze.
