Saskatchewan teachers voted 85 percent in support of a new four-year agreement in a vote held from May 19-21.
For teachers, regaining lost purchasing power and alleviating the challenges of class complexity were the two most important issues to address in this round of bargaining.
Unfortunately, the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee was unwilling to include any provisions about class complexity in the agreement.
鈥淎cceptance of this agreement does not signal that teachers鈥� concerns have been addressed,鈥� Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation President Patrick Maze stated. 鈥淗owever, teachers recognize the world has changed dramatically and settling the contract enables them to focus their energy on supporting their students by continuing to adapt their teaching strategies and provide quality emergency remote learning for the rest of this school year.鈥�
In order to address class complexity, the STF is participating with sector partners in a new provincial class size and composition committee. The committee鈥檚 structure is modelled after the Education Sector Response Planning Team. Also, the STF is cautiously optimistic about a collaborative sector approach to a COVID-19 response that can be replicated to address class complexity.
鈥淲e remain deeply committed to ensuring students have equitable access to the supports and resources they need,鈥� said Maze. 鈥淲e will continue to propose and advocate for solutions through the new committee. If government fails to implement meaningful change, we will explore all avenues, including future rounds of bargaining, to ensure students鈥� needs are met.鈥�
The agreement will be effective from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023.
Teachers will receive zero per cent in year one and two per cent in each of the following years. The provincial government has agreed to create new educational regulations that would compel school boards to provide the STF with a list of all substitute teachers each school year.聽
