It's a last ditch attempt by all sides to find a resolution without disrupting what's salvageable from the current school year. Let's hope it works.
At the request of both parties, Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan has appointed a special mediator to help end the dispute between the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Government of Saskatchewan).
Both sides have agreed to work with the mediator in an effort to reach a fair settlement. They have also agreed to suspend all job action and advertising activity until the mediation process reaches a resolution.
With finals underway and grad season in full swing, that is good news for parents and students alike.
"We are hopeful that appointing a special mediator will assist the parties in concluding a collective agreement," Morgan says. "The special mediator will examine any issues in dispute and focus on assisting the parties to reach consensus on outstanding differences."
Richard Hornung, the appointed mediator, is reportedly a well known and accomplished mediator, conciliator and arbitrator with a national practice based in Calgary. He is a former Professor of Law at the University of Alberta, was a senior partner specializing in Civil Litigation, Labour Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution and was Vice Chair (currently in a part time capacity) of the Canada Industrial Relations Board. He has also served as Chair of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board.
He's got the qualifications, but if he is unable to obtain consensus between the parties by June 10, his task is to prepare a report for consideration, setting out his findings and providing recommendations for the resolution of the outstanding issues. If all goes well, he will submit a final report to the Minister on or before June 30.
It's a difficult situation with many sides but for the sake of all involved, let's hope, everyone works together with a little give and take so we can put this problem behind us.
