STF supported by other unions as it pushes for class size, complexity in contract

Many teachers from across Canada are standing behind the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF).

On Tuesday, teachers’ federations from Ontario, New Brunswick and British Columbia joined STF president Samantha Becotte at a virtual news conference to explain that class size, complexity, and other support measures for students can be included in collective bargaining agreements for teachers.

The Saskatchewan union has been pushing for class size and complexity to be included in teachers’ new contract during its negotiations with the province, but so far the government has refused, saying the issues are best managed locally by school boards. The Saskatchewan School Boards Association also said those issues should be tackled at the local level rather than being built into a contract.

The deadlocked negotiations led to strikes by teachers and a withdrawal of noon-hour supervision across the province on Friday. On Tuesday the STF said its sanctions will continue “until the government provides their committee with a mandate to engage on these critical matters.”

According to a media release from the STF, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) successfully pushed to get additional staffing and resources for its members and pushed to ensure that policies are designed to make schools a safe place for teaching and learning.

“If this can happen in Ontario it can certainly happen in Saskatchewan,” ETFO president Karen Brown said in the release.

“Positive changes for students, teachers and schools can happen at the bargaining table when the parties work together to affect positive change.”

The ETFO’s agreement also includes the addition of specialist positions and a Support for Students Fund, as well as initiatives to address violence in classrooms.

“The increase in violence and aggression in our schools across Saskatchewan has been a great cause for concern,” Becotte said, noting that addressing that issue is part of the conversation at the bargaining table as well.

According to the STF, provincial and local agreements for the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation include class size limits which are supported by a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada. The B.C. agreement also includes staffing ratios and other stipulations such as extra time preparing for students with additional needs.

“When we are able to negotiate class-size limits and caseload ratios for specialist teachers like school counsellors, or guaranteed support levels for children with diagnosed learning challenges, we are better able to do our jobs,” Clint Johnston, president of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, said in the STF’s release.

“The (New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation) agreement includes class-size limits for all grades and combined grades, a clause guaranteeing special consideration for class size where classes  include students with additional needs and the establishment of a Teachers’ Working  Conditions Fund,” the STF further noted.

Becotte told reporters on Tuesday that a memorandum of understanding the government proposed outside of the bargaining process in order to address classroom complexity was inadequate, as it could be terminated at any point and had no dispute resolution mechanism in case the province couldn’t uphold its end.

She said the proposal that was put forward outlining what the STF wants to see around classroom complexity included staff-to-student ratios for every professional support position in schools, including teachers, mental health professionals and educational psychologists.

Becotte explained that without the proper ratios in place, managing complex needs can be difficult. She said classroom complexity is a big reason why teachers are leaving the profession, and said addressing the issue could lead to better retention of teachers in Saskatchewan.

Outside of the negotiating process, the Ministry of Education has been taking steps it hopes will improve the situation for teachers through small-scale pilot projects, including the creation of eight “specialized support classrooms” intended to reduce in-class disruptions. Last week, the ministry further announced $32 million in funding to add 45 new portable classrooms to schools around the province.

The union said it turned down an offer from the provincial government to resume bargaining last week because the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee hadn’t been given a new bargaining mandate.