STF members to vote on possibility of sanctions beyond school year

Teachers in Saskatchewan will vote on the possibility of more sanctions next week.

According to the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, union members will vote on Wednesday and Thursday “on giving the STF Executive a mandate to implement sanctions beyond the current school year, as the existing mandate expires on June 30, 2024.”

The union said its goal is is to reach a new agreement at the bargaining table.

Teachers rejected a contract offer from the provincial government this week, which would have given them an eight per cent salary increase over three years.

Previous sanctions from the union have included strikes and the withdrawal of support for extracurriculars, cancelling school trips and hampering major sporting events.

Union president Samantha Becotte accused the government of dragging out the process “for reasons that are beyond understanding.”

Throughout the bargaining process, the federation has insisted that a new contract contain stipulations on class size and classroom complexity. The province has said funding is between the government and the elected school boards who will receive and administer those funds, but earmarked millions of dollars to help with in-class support in its recent budget.

The union said results of the vote will be made public next week, and sanctions will be implemented if negotiations once again break down.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill has said the school year could be extended, depending on how much class time is lost due to the union’s sanctions.