STF blames province for bargaining information leak

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) is expressing “deep disappointment” and accusing the province of leaking confidential information related to its negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement.

The Leader-Post reported this week the province had proposed a 3.67-per-cent salary decrease or comparable savings through reductions to employee benefits, or a 3.5-per-cent cut in total compensation through reductions.

As a counter, the STF is asking for a one-per-cent bump to its pay grid plus increases in line with the consumer price index. It has put forward other proposals as well, such as a clearer definition of how many hours a teacher should work.

In a statement release Friday, STF president Patrick Maze said the leak of that information calls into question the integrity of the province.

“Based on the nature of the information released, it is clearly evident this came from the other side of the negotiating table,” Maze said.

“This poor behaviour is deeply disappointing, given both sides had agreed early on to keep bargaining proposals confidential.”

Maze went on to say the recent leaks could represent “some kind of tactical manoeuvre to lower expectations for teachers and other groups about to commence collective bargaining with government.”