Saskatchewan Teachers Prepare to Strike After Government Talks Break Down

A woman holds a sign while walking at a demonstration site during a province-wide, one-day strike organized by the members of Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation in Saskatoon Jan. 22, 2024. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) says it is preparing for strike action after contract negotiations have broken down with the government.

“Teachers are notifying the public and government to expect an escalation of job sanctions after classes resume on February 26,” a Feb. 16 STF statement said. “Teachers will provide a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any further job action.”

The STF has asked that the government address classroom issues, funding, and salaries for teachers.

The province says it has addressed issues of class size and composition with $53.1 million in new funding, but won’t agree to a proposed 23.5 percent increase in salary over four years.

Saskatchewan teachers earned between $49,588 and $102,048 in 2022–2023, according to STF data.

The Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) issued a statement on Feb. 16 saying class complexity should be handled at a local level, and not as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

“Building on Government’s recent funding commitment of $53.1 million, a dedicated fund for local boards will be established to address classroom complexity,” SSBA president Jane Smith-Windsor said.

“Local committees representing local teachers’ associations, trustees, and senior administration will be established to identify and address priorities,” she said. “This opportunity, outside of bargaining, allows the parties to return to the table.”

Educators across the province have been involved in rotating strike action since mid-Janaury and walked out of schools during the lunch break on Feb. 16, which meant there was no supervision for students.

Parents and guardians were required to collect their children from school during the lunch break. Students could return for the afternoon to finish some work, or they could opt to take home a work package.

Saskatchewan schools are now on a one-week break.

The STF says over 52,000 emails and calls have been made to government officials expressing concern about underfunding in schools.

However, the government says it has remained at the bargaining table, but accuses the STF of walking away.

The Epoch Times reached out to the STF and Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s office but did not hear back by publication time.

“Two new commitments were offered to address the STF leadership’s outstanding concerns,” Mr. Cockrill said in a Feb. 13 video on social media.

“Bargaining requires both sides to be at the table, and the government trustee bargaining committee was ready to negotiate a fair deal. But the teachers union chose us to walk away after just 30 minutes.”

The STF said that the government has been “misleading the public” and “refusing good faith negotiations.”

It has also accused the government of not showing up to negotiations in a video posted on X on Feb. 13.

“The teachers bargaining committee came to the table ready to negotiate and put aside two full days ready to negotiate all through the day and all through the night,” STF president Samantha Becotte said. “And yet we’re here the government trustee bargaining team didn’t even bother to show up to continue those conversations.”

She said it was “deeply disrespectful to students and families, as well as the 13,500 teachers in the province.

“Unless they are willing to return to the table and actually negotiate, we have no choice but to continue using the tools available to us to hold them accountable.”