Education minister, NDP leader concerned over potential teacher strike

As tensions continue to rise between the government and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, there are growing concerns over the potential for a teachers’ strike.

In a news release, the union said teachers will vote on sanctions next week. Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s education minister, said he’s worried about the outcome.

“We take that seriously as government,” he said. “We want to get to a deal that provides predictability and clarity.”

The minister said he’s concerned about day-to-day functionality in classrooms and extracurricular activities that could be put on pause, depending on the outcome of the vote.

He said he wants to get back to the table and negotiate with the teachers’ federation.

“My message to union leadership and teachers in this province is the government wants to get a deal done, and that’s at the table,” he said.

In a news release, Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, said the government has left the union no other options.

Cockrill repeatedly said the government is at the table and ready to get a deal done, “any day of the week, at any time.”

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

The education minister added that he believes the government is offering the union a fair deal. He noted there has been some common ground found already, but only on minor issues.

“The STF did cancel our August bargaining session, so we did lose a month there over the summer,” he said.

Cockrill said deals like this take time, but in order to get anything done, both parties have to be at the table.

The minister respects the people rallying across the province in support of the teachers’ union, but said a rally won’t help the parties come to terms.

“I respect the membership of the STF wanting to attend rallies, but where we get a deal done is at the bargaining table,” he said.

The union brought forward concerns over classroom sizes and composition during negotiations, which have long been sticking points for teachers.

Cockrill said it’s not something the government will address during negotiations with teachers.

“We’ve communicated to the STF that that specific topic, we believe, is best managed by local school divisions. That’s not something that we’re looking for in a bargaining agreement,” he said.

NDP Leader Carla Beck said she also wants to see a fair deal for Saskatchewan’s teachers. She said she wants to see issues that teachers have been concerned about finally being addressed, but doesn’t expect to see it happening soon.

NDP Leader Carla Beck. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Beck said the government has cut funding “over the last decade” rather than working towards addressing the concerns of the union.

“That has resulted in fewer supports for kids in school (and) increased complexity,” she said.

“Instead of getting to the table and actually addressing those issues that are felt right across this province, we saw a government willing to put up billboards ahead of bargaining.”

Beck said she feels the government wants to create a divide between parents and teachers. She said all the Saskatchewan Party does is blame others, create divisions and distract from the real issues.

“None of it gets us closer to actually addressing the issues that people are consistently telling us in this province needs addressing,” said Beck.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick