Sask. gov’t outlines offer to province’s teachers

The Government Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) has offered a three-year contract to the province’s teachers.

In a media release Tuesday, the committee — which comprises representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association — laid out its offer to the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee, which represents the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF).

In the first year (2019-20), the committee is offering a $1,500, one-time payment per full-time teacher.

The second year would feature a two-per-cent salary increase, as would the third year.

The offer doesn’t address class size and composition. Education Minister Gord Wyant said that is something that must be determined at the local level.

“We’ve always taken the position that the best decisions in local governance are made by local school boards, so class size and composition have traditionally and by legislation been negotiated locally,” said Wyant.

The STF is not happy with what it calls the “light” contract offer. STF president Patrick Maze says the association was hoping to see class size and composition provisions.

“We’re hearing from our members that they’re going home at the end of the night feeling they’ve been pulled in too many directions and they’re just putting out fires all day,” said Maze.

Wyant said while some items are negotiated at the local level, the province is still listening.

“That’s not to say we’re not interested in it. We’re very interested in trying to deal with some of the issues that teachers are facing in their classrooms and composition is one of them,” Wyant said.

Meanwhile, the STF maintains that the province froze funding in 2012 for any enhancements to local contracts.

“What’s broken is government has restricted the school boards’ ability to direct some funds towards alleviating class size and composition concerns,” said Maze.

The two sides are to be back at the table Wednesday.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brady Lang