Teachers Offer Path Forward to End Job Action
Today, Saskatchewan teachers are calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to agree to binding arbitration to address the contentious issues of class size and complexity. If the government agrees, teachers will immediately suspend job action and negotiations will proceed with the remaining items on the table for a new collective bargaining agreement. In 2017, the government amended The Education Act, 1995 by removing the option for binding arbitration if requested by one party; however, if both parties agree to binding arbitration there is nothing preventing the use of this resolution method.
“We are putting forward a fair, objective and neutral path to resolve this single-issue dispute. If government agrees to binding arbitration for class size and complexity, we will return to negotiations and all extracurricular activities, including Hoopla, band festivals, trips and graduation celebrations, can proceed,” says Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte. “To put this in clear terms: if government refuses binding arbitration, then Minister Cockrill and Premier Moe are choosing to cancel school trips, graduation planning, band festivals, Hoopla and so many more of this year’s activities that bring joy to our students and school communities.”
If the government agrees, negotiations will continue for all other items. A tentative agreement could be brought forward to STF members for a vote while awaiting the arbitrator’s decision on class size and complexity. The arbitrator’s decision would then be added into the agreement. The STF highlights the importance of government agreeing before Sunday, March 17. As the STF has stated previously, sanction actions will increase as the impasse continues and many important extracurricular activities and events are fast approaching, starting with Hoopla next week.
“We’re asking Minister Cockrill to agree so that we can reach resolution,” said Becotte. “Every day the Minister delays his decision means students are missing out on more activities, lost deposits and the cancellation of events.”
Parents, caregivers, community members and all others who support teachers’ efforts to improve students’ classroom experiences and want certainty in education are asked to contact MLAs, locally elected school board trustees and the provincial leadership of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association to call on the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to agree to this path forward to allow for certainty within publicly funded education. Visit www.tellthemtuesday.com for tools and information.