Sask. teachers vote in favour of job sanctions over contract talks

Service cutbacks could be coming to Saskatchewan’s schools after teachers voted overwhelmingly in favour of sanctions in a vote taken two weeks ago.

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation president Patrick Maze said Monday morning that 90.2 per cent of teachers voted in favour of taking job action.

“There could be a withdrawal of voluntary services like extracurricular activities (or) it could be work to rule where you come in just before the start of the day and leave without taking anything home at the end of the day,” said Maze. “There’s also rotating strikes as an option.”

More than 96 per cent of the province’s teachers voted on Feb. 10 and 11 after the STF declared conciliation talks with the province had failed.

“We’re pleased with the result. It shows that teachers are resolved to fixing the situations that we’re experiencing in our classrooms and that they are standing up for students across the province,” said Maze.

The STF said the vote provides the teachers’ bargaining committee with the authority to implement job action, but it doesn’t have to. The bargaining committee would choose the type and timing of any action.

“We’re committed to giving 48 hours notice to any more severe sanctions like a walkout or withdrawal of service,” said Maze.

A meeting is scheduled between the STF and Education Minister Gord Wyant on Tuesday to discuss the next steps, following a recommendation from the conciliation report released last week.

Maze said the preference would be to not have to implement sanctions, but a lot will depend on Tuesday’s meeting and what the government brings to it in the way of resources.

“Even though we have a strong mandate from our members, sanctions are a last resort and we would prefer that the government comes to the table and negotiates with us in good faith,” said Maze.

Maze said classroom complexity is an issue that needs to be resolved in the collective agreement.

The provincial government responded to the teacher’s vote in a statement Monday afternoon.

The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Education Rob Currie and said the ministry was made aware of the vote after seeing Twitter reports.

The statement acknowledges that, as per the conciliator’s recommendation, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation will meet Tuesday morning to discuss class size and composition.

Currie said the results of the teachers’ vote do not change the approach to bargaining and the government will continue to bargain in good faith.

He said the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee has invited the teachers’ bargaining committee back to the bargaining table and the goal remains to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for teachers.