Sask. teachers to picket in front of legislature as government releases budget
CBC
Striking teachers will gather outside the Saskatchewan Legislature Wednesday as the government releases its annual budget.
On Monday, the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) announced teachers would be walking off the job Wednesday as they continues to struggle with the provincial government to solidify a new contract.
The STF is steadfast that classroom size and complexity should be added to the contract agreement, while the provincial government says the bargaining table isn't the place for that issue.
Saskatchewan's 2024-25 provincial budget is set to be released Wednesday afternoon.
Teachers are set to strike outside the Legislative Building, and in other locations around the province, from Wednesday morning until early afternoon.
The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation also gave notice of a one-day strike for teachers in Lloydminster Public, Lloydminster Catholic and Horizon school divisions. It is set to happen Friday.
The STF has also halted teacher participation in extracurricular activities on Thursday and Friday, potentially putting a stop to two major events scheduled for the week.
The Optimist Band Festival, an all-age and all-skill level concert in Regina that was expected to span four days, was cut short. It only ran Monday and Tuesday because of the job action.
The fate of Hoopla, the massive provincial basketball championship in Moose Jaw, is still to be decided. Organizers say the event will be cancelled unless the extracurricular job action is reversed by a deadline of 3 p.m. CST Wednesday.
During the legislative session Tuesday, Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill asked the union to call down the job action that could affect Hoopla.
"The union leadership wants to say that this is all about the kids … but now it's kids who are paying the price for the STF's job action," Cockrill said.
STF president Samantha Becotte blamed the government.
"If the government agreed to binding arbitration for classroom complexity or provided their bargaining team with the mandate that included classroom complexity, we could return to the table to negotiate an agreement and … all sanctions would be cancelled or suspended," Becotte said.
The province and district social services administration boards say plans are in place to ensure people on social assistance do not miss out on benefits as a result of the strike by Canada Post employees.
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