Sask. Teachers' Federation, gov't searching for path forward following impasse, reinstating job sanctions

As teachers right across Saskatchewan prepare to take part in "work-to rule" job action beginning next week – both sides are presenting their case as to why after a year-long labour dispute, a deal has not yet been reached.

As teachers right across Saskatchewan prepare to take part in “work-to rule” job action beginning next week – both sides are presenting their case as to why after a year-long labour dispute, a deal has not yet been reached.

In the first day of negotiations following the rejection of a tentative agreement – the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) requested moving negotiations to binding arbitration.

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) refused – citing the need to continue discussing potential additions or changes to the proposed agreement following its rejection by 55 per cent of the STF’s membership.

“I believe that we are close to an agreement,” STF President Samantha Becotte told reporters Thursday morning. “I encourage the government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SBBA) to continue negotiating so that we can come to a quick resolution and start improving our students’ learning conditions and our teachers’ working conditions as soon as possible.”

Becotte said in conversations with teachers following the vote – it became clear that several concerns needed addressing before another deal made its way to the membership.

“In the conversations that I heard from teachers, their position around the last tentative agreement was that there were too many things that were included that were promises for the future,” she said. “Like I said, we need to see solutions to the growing needs of our students and increasing classroom complexity.”

The STF did suggest binding arbitration earlier this year in the midst of job action and a negotiation deadlock. The federation called for a third party arbitrator to determine whether class size and complexity measures belonged in the collective agreement.