Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation table 'new deal' amidst sanctions, pandemic

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) has tentatively reached a new bargaining agreement for its over 1300 teachers in the province, pending a vote later this month, after being without an agreement since late 2019. If successful the Agreement will keep educators teaching, but will it address the root causes of their earlier sanctions?

"No student should fall behind because of EA's, or the resources that are being given to the class" says Doyle Vermette, Provincial MLA for the Cumberland district in Northern Saskatchewan. 

"Teachers are absolutely not turning their backs on students" Vermette continued, referencing the Sanctions actions put in place earlier this year restricting extra-curricular activities by teachers as a means of protest 

"--it is the Saskatchewan government that is turning its back on students". 

Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) President Patrick Maze says the union was reluctant to sign given the agreement does not address many intangibles around Classroom Composition and supports, namely or Mental Health, EAL, and Teachers' Aids. 

The agreement in principle comes after long deliberations--since the fourth quarter of 2019 -- and will see raises of 6% evenly over 3 years. President Maze says the union would like to give the recently shuffled Classroom Composition Committee a chance to bear fruit; in December of last year the union rejected an offer by the Province to a single seat on its nine-person committee for these issues.

As of the most recent offer the Government of Saskatchewan has relented, and offered a Committee with 'a more Traditional' makeup: in addition to now having two unrestricted seats, the STF will be flanked and supported by two seats each from: the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (4), the Saskatoon School Business Officials (6), Sask LEADS (8) and finally two members from the Ministry of Education.

"It's an opportunity for us to meet with our members and give them the chance to vote on this Agreement" Maze said to MBC "If they decide to vote no and want us back at sanctions come September then that's what we'll do"

The vote is scheduled for May 19-21, 2020.