Rotating Withdrawal of Noon-Hour Supervision March 18 and March 19

Teachers are giving notice of a rotating withdrawal of noon-hour supervision that will take place Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19. By law, 48-hours’ notice is required for job action; however, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is providing extra time to allow families to make arrangements.

The STF is disappointed that Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill has rejected the Federation’s invitation to take part in binding arbitration on the issue of class size and complexity. The Minister continues to insist this issue cannot be part of a provincial collective bargaining agreement; however, a conciliator’s report released in January validated teachers’ position that class size and complexity can be articles for negotiation as they relate to teachers’ working conditions. Any issue can be sent to binding arbitration as long as both sides agree to the process. Government’s refusal to participate in arbitration means, regrettably, that job action will continue.

Withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on Monday, March 18 will involve teachers who are members of the following local associations:

• North East Teachers’ Association – All schools in North East School Division
• Prairie Spirit Teachers’ Association – All schools in Prairie Spirit School Division
• Regina Catholic Schools Teachers’ Association – All schools in Regina Catholic Schools Division

Withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on Tuesday, March 19 will involve teachers who are members of the following local associations:

• Christ the Teacher Teachers’ Association – All schools in Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division
• Good Spirit Teachers’ Association – All schools in Good Spirit School Division
• Île-à-la-Crosse Teachers’ Association – All schools in Île-à-la-Crosse School Division
• Northern Area Teachers’ Association – All schools in Northern Lights School Division
• Prairie South Teachers’ Association – All schools in Prairie South School Division
• South East Cornerstone Teachers’ Association – All schools in South East Cornerstone School Division
• Sun West Teachers’ Association – All schools in Sun West School Division
• Tri-West Teachers’ Association – All schools in Living Sky and Light of Christ Catholic school divisions and Sakewew High School (North Battleford)

Withdrawal of noon-hour supervision means STF members will not be available to supervise students who are eating lunch at school or taking part in noon-hour activities. Although teachers, including principals and vice-principals, often provide lunch-break supervision, it is not part of their contracted professional duties. Student supervision is the responsibility of the school division and supervisors are not required to be teachers.