‘It’s not a game:’ STF president says as teachers begin second strike Monday

After a single-day strike last Tuesday, Saskatchewan teachers are hitting the picket lines again.

A second strike day began on Monday, which also happens to be a professional development day for teachers at both Catholic and public elementary schools in Saskatoon.

Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), said she was aware of the events lining up.

“There is no perfect day,” she said.

“There’s always going to be something happening in schools. There’s always going to be a disruption with our strike action. So we recognize that this is also a loss to teachers. This should be taken on another level of seriousness in that teachers are giving up that planning and preparation time and the time for development and learning to go out on the picket line for hours.”

Becotte said the goal hasn’t changed, as the union continues to push for stipulations around class size and class complexity to be included in its new contract.

Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, joins teachers for a demonstration in front of the Legislative Building in Regina during a single-day teacher strike on Jan. 16, 2024. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

“We want to ensure that students across the province are going to get the supports that they need in their classes and that we are making improvements to their experience in schools, right from Kindergarten all the way to grade 12,” she said.

“The government hasn’t started to engage in the negotiation process in any meaningful way. We’re hoping that the action on Monday helps move them off of their opening position and get back to the table.”

The government didn’t budge after last Tuesday’s strike, saying it’s taking steps to address the issues but won’t write them into a new contract agreement.

If that’s the case again, Becotte said more sanctions can be expected.

“We do have a longer-term plan,” Becotte said.

“We don’t want to be taking these actions. We want to be in the classroom supporting our kids, and the government is really forcing teachers into this choice because they have no other options.”

Teachers are back for another one day strike today

Educators are saying say it’s “frustrating” to be back on the picket line and they are hoping for change when it comes to classroom complexity and size@CKOMNews @CJMENews pic.twitter.com/wKJqYPOdDB

— Mia Holowaychuk (@miaholoway) January 22, 2024

Becotte said last week’s strike brought strong support from across the province, and she hopes that’s the case again Monday.

“There were already quite a few (students) who we saw across Saskatchewan joining with their teachers,” Becotte said.

“I’ve seen posts on social media organizing parents and students to get out on the picket line, not by teachers, but by just members of the community. It was really overwhelming to see the support from the public, parents, students, business owners and churches opening their doors on Tuesday last week in the freezing cold to make sure teachers knew they were supported in this fight.”

Saskatchewan teachers picketed in Saskatoon on Monday morning. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Becotte said from her perspective, everyone seems to understand the value of investing in public education except for the government.

“It’s really unfortunate that the government continues to play games, because when I’m talking about my own kids’ future, it’s not a game. These are children and their lives aren’t meant to be played with,” she said.

During an interview with Evan Bray on Monday, Becotte said that if sanctions continue without progress at the negotiating table, she wouldn’t rule out binding arbitration as an option.

“That’s a big if,” Becotte told Bray.

She said the union would seek direction from its members if the government was willing to agree to arbitration.

Teachers say they need more support in the classroom

Kristy Laird, a teacher at Dr. John G. Egnatoff School in Saskatoon, said it’s frustrating that a deal has not been reached between the government and teachers.

“We’ve got a lot of kids with needs that are not supported because we don’t have the funding to do so,” she said.

As a mother herself, Laird she is striking for not just her students but for her own children too.

Blake Cumming, a teacher at Dalmeny High School, said he’s seen the education system going “downhill” since the time he was a student himself.

He said his class of 35 students only has one educational assistant, and more of his students’ needs could be addressed if he had more help in the classroom.

Michael Maier, a teacher in Aberdeen, said he was on the picket line to stand up for his students.

“We don’t have the support we need to give them the best education we can give them,” he said.

Maier said striking is worth doing in order to send the government a message.

“Hearing the horns honking and the people waving shows us there is support, and hopefully that support gets echoed to the people (that) need to listen a little closer,” he said.

Parents prepared for second strike

For many parents in Saskatoon, their plans don’t really have to change.

“We’re actually business as usual because it was a P.D. day,” said Michelle Kalnicki. “(We’re) hoping the government shows up and we’re not on an extra long strike.”

“I had already planned to be with my kids for what was going to be the P.D. day,” said teacher Jessica Olver. “We’ll probably just do some family activities.”

Olver said she hopes to be able to join her colleagues on the picket line.

“I think we’ll also go by some of the picket areas and support the teachers,” said Olver. “We’ll probably go by the Centre Mall location, and the kids had made a few signs for the last picketing day, so we’ll bring those signs back out.”

Chance Little also plans to show support to the teachers in Saskatoon.

“They need all the help they can get,” Little said.

For Lee Osmundson and his wife, who is a teacher, they’ll have to juggle their schedules a little bit.

“I’m kind of lucky because I can work from home, so it’s not as bad,” he said.

“But I know there’s tons of parents out there that they have to take time off and take care of the family first.”

He said he thinks the union’s strategy is a solid one.

“I think it’s a good play with the STF and what they’re doing,” Osmundson said. “If they had a longer strike or walkout, the government would just mandate them back to work anyways. So I think it’s a pretty good strategy on their part.”

According to the STF, more than 18,000 emails and phone calls have been sent to Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill, Premier Scott Moe and members of the legislative assembly in less than two weeks.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk