Province, teachers’ union find ‘common ground’ in latest talks
But sides remain at loggerheads over key issue of composition, size of classes
No one was passing notes about what was said at a meeting on Tuesday between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the Ministry of Education in Regina, but both sides characterized the discussions as productive.
“I’m pleased to report that we were able to find some common ground,” STF president Patrick Maze told reporters after the meeting with Minister of Education Gord Wyant and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
Maze wouldn’t discuss the specifics of what was said.
Going into the meeting, the STF had a gale of wind at its back in the form of an overwhelming vote from the province’s 13,500 teachers represented by the STF — 90.2 per cent of whom are in favour of job action.
The vote came on Feb. 10 and 11, weeks after four days of conciliation talks in January between the province and the STF failed to produce a new contract or meaningful steps toward a new contract. The STF has said 48 hours’ notice will be given in the event of job action.
Class composition was the main part of the discussion on Tuesday, according to Maze. He added that as talks continue, the STF will still explore avenues with the province to address what it sees as a keystone issue.
“It crystallizes the fact that teachers want a solution to find some support for the students in their classrooms and make sure their students are set up for success,” said Maze.
That vote saw 96.6 per cent of eligible voters weigh in on the matter, according to the STF.
“I was a little bit surprised by the number,” Wyant said, speaking to reporters following the meeting.
“We respect the fact that teachers have voted to take sanctions. As far as the government is concerned, we’re resolved in our position.”
Wyant was pleased with the conversation, finding “common ground” with Maze. But that common ground did not extend to class size and composition in bargaining talks, which has been an impasse between the two parties leading to the initial breakdown in talks earlier this year.
The minister said the government’s position remains unwavering, that class size and composition should not be included in a collective agreement.
Wyant noted classes are far more complex now than in the past. He said acknowledging that was some of the common ground reached on Tuesday.
Despite the overwhelming vote in favour of job action, Wyant questioned how willing the president and others at the STF are to walk off the job.
“I don’t think that the leadership at the STF particularly want to take job action or to exercise their sanctions vote,” he added.
Another point of contention is wages.
From negotiations in the spring of 2019, the government proposed a $1,500 bonus funded from teachers’ health plans and two-per-cent wage increases in 2020 and 2021.
The STF has proposed a threeper-cent increase in 2019 followed by a pair of two per cent raises.
Both the minister and Maze say they look forward to the next round of meetings, tentatively scheduled for next week, though Wyant admitted nothing concrete came from Tuesday’s discussions. Still, he left the room feeling optimistic.
“I think the fact that we’ve agreed to continue conversations is a pretty positive result of today’s meeting,” Wyant said.
Maze said the meeting saw both sides looking to meet somewhere in the middle.
“The ministry accepts there’s work that needs to be done in our classrooms; it’s just a case of what that fix looks like,” he said.
“Both sides are looking at ways to work forward that are in the best interest of students,” he continued.