A Saskatchewan high school student is accusing the teachers union of leveraging students in their contract dispute with the provincial government.
Tristin Funk from Herbert posted a Facebook video on Wednesday expressing his disappointment that the provincial Hoopla basketball championships in Regina could be cancelled with teachers set to withdraw extracurricular services on Thursday.
We support teachers, but we do not support the STF’s decision to take away something we have all been working so hard for, as leverage in their dispute. #wearenotbargainingchips Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Government of Saskatchewan
Posted by Tristin Funk on Wednesday, March 11, 2020
“This decision you have made is cruel and unfair. My team and I were looking forward to the possibility of competing at Hoopla this year,” he said. “You have taken that opportunity from not only my team, but for all 1,700 basketball players across the province.”
Photos of kids and coaches are flashed during the two-minute-long video that Funk says is meant to show the impact of the teacher’s actions.
“We empathize with your fight, but we do not consent to be your leverage,” he said. “This is affecting our lives. We are not bargaining chips.”