Teachers set to vote on `final offer'
Proposal includes wage hikes, pledge to honour class complexity promises
After two days of “difficult negotiations,” the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) has decided to bring what is being described as the government's “final offer” to members for a vote on May 8 and 9.
“We didn't want to go and sit at a table and hear no for another two days as we had previously experienced,” STF president Samantha Becotte told media Thursday.
“Unfortunately, that is the majority of what occurred.”
Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill called the offer a “tentative agreement” when speaking after Thursday's question period, a characterization Becotte took issue with.
“A tentative agreement would imply that there were good-faith negotiations that happened,” she said.
While Becotte said she nor any other elected members of the STF will instruct teachers on how to vote on the contract, Cockrill said he is hopeful the offer will get approved.
“I'm going to wait for the STF membership to see if they ratify this vote,” Cockrill said when asked if a new offer would be considered if the teachers reject the one being put to a vote.
The proposed three-year deal includes salary increases of three per cent in the first two years, and two per cent in the third year, with retroactive pay to September 2023, according to an STF news release issued late Wednesday.
This is similar to the province's opening offer of a 7.2-per cent wage increase over three years presented last summer.
The teachers' union originally asked for an eight-per-cent increase over four years plus the average inflation rate.
The government later said it was willing to offer the same formula to teachers that MLAS receive, which would have worked out to 12 per cent over four years.
“We have a really good agreement on the table here,” Cockrill said, adding the province is not forcing a vote on the offer.
Speaking from Saskatoon on Thursday afternoon, NDP education critic Matt Love accused the government of engaging in “nothing but empty political messaging ” during negotiations, rather than seeking a deal to provide a “well-resourced” system that works for teachers and students.
The government only has itself to blame for the lack of trust that has prompted teachers to demand assurances of “adequate, predictable, stable” funding to address class size and complexity, Love added, pointing to what he described as the Saskatchewan Party's record of “promising big” on education in election years, then cutting funds in subsequent years.
Becotte said the offer also includes a single line the STF had previously asked for that says “the parties agree that the multiyear funding agreement and the accountability framework will be followed and honoured.”
This is in reference to a fouryear funding agreement signed between the province and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) in March, as well as an accountability framework that was pitched by the province, but has yet to be fleshed out.
When asked if the sentiment would be binding — a condition the STF has consistently advocated for throughout bargaining — Cockrill did not provide a yes or no answer.
“Followed and honoured,” he replied.
Outside of the collective-bargaining agreement, Becotte said the government-trustee bargaining committee (GTBC) has also offered a letter of undertaking signed by the chair that contains items that would address some of the concerns teachers have voiced over the course of negotiations, but that it would be non-binding and will not include any dispute-resolution mechanisms.
A media note sent on behalf of the GTBC Wednesday, said it sees this as “a fair and reasonable agreement that will benefit Saskatchewan students, teachers and families.”
The statement, attributed to chair Don Hoium, said the offer also includes “enhancements to teachers' benefits package and the “inclusion of an accountability framework.”
Becotte said including the framework in the contract in full was not discussed at the bargaining table.
“The GTBC was clear that what was being offered was their final offer,” Becotte said, adding the STF pushed back several times only to be repeatedly told the same thing.
The federation will share more details with membership over the coming days and answer any questions that arise so that they can make an informed decision about the offer, she said.
If accepted, the historic labour dispute that has seen Saskatchewan students miss out on activities while union and government officials exchanged sometimes-rancorous comments online and in the media could soon end.
The inclusion of language in the contract related to funding to address classroom complexity has been a sticking point for the union throughout negotiations.
Teachers across the province began work-to-rule job action last Monday, an escalation in the longest string of job action by teachers in the history of the province. Last Friday, the STF announced all job sanctions would cease at the end of the day as both parties were set to resume bargaining Tuesday.
At the time, Becotte said progress had been made around complexity, composition and funding accountability and the GTBC had received a new mandate to “properly address all of the issues important to teachers.” Cockrill also voiced optimism, emphasizing that ”everyone in this province wants to come to an agreement.”
But on Thursday, Becotte said “the bargaining process has taken a toll on the sector.”
Conduct by the government, the SSBA and some division administrations “have shown the lack of respect and appreciation for teachers in Saskatchewan and a lack of appreciation for the work that they do as professionals in classrooms,” she said.
Bargaining began last May, with the first meetings between the STF and the GTBC taking place at the end of that month.
In October, the STF declared an impasse and intent to seek conciliation. Two rounds of conciliation meetings took place in Regina, one in early December, and the next in mid-december.