STF announces binding arbitration panel members

Nearly one month after the end of the school year, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has announced the members selected for the three-person panel that will eventually decide how the contract dispute with the provincial government will play out.

In a news release, the STF says both sides have agreed to nominate Danish Ish, former University of Saskatchewan law professor and dean of the College of Law, as the arbitrator.

Two other panel members have also been chosen, one by each side.

The STF has chosen retired Saskatoon Public Schools teacher and principal Dawn Harkness as its nominee, while the provincial government has chosen Greg Chatlain, former Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools director of education, as its nominee.

Contract talks between Saskatchewan teachers and the province began in June 2023, then stalled by October.

Over the last school year, there have been a series of rotating strikes, work to rule sanctions and intermittent negotiations with the provincial government, and two contract offers that were ultimately rejected. 

In mid-June, the STF agreed to binding arbitration.

A brief statement from the Ministry of Education’s Mitchell Blair said “We are pleased that binding arbitration continues to move forward toward reaching an agreement that will bring predictability to students, families, and staff.”

According to the STF, both sides will present their cases to the arbitration panel and once a decision is made by the arbitrator, it will become legally binding.

No arbitration dates have yet been set.