Province pushes for binding arbitration, as Sask. teachers prepare to work-to-rule again
Sask. Teachers' Federation says binding arbitration too lengthy a process
The government of Saskatchewan is continuing its call for binding arbitration with teachers, but the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) says that route would take too long and they want to get back to the bargaining table.
Teachers announced Wednesday night they are implementing sanctions again, after declaring an impasse in bargaining. Indefinite work-to-rule begins Monday.
The sanctions mean there will be no voluntary services provided by teachers, no lunch supervision and teachers will begin their shift 15 minutes before the bell rings and end 15 minutes after.
"Students need more supports now. Binding arbitration can be a lengthy process which would guarantee that no additional supports would be provided by September, and possibly not even January if it's a prolonged period before we get a decision from the arbitrator," STF president Samantha Becotte said on Thursday.
She said she believes the two sides are close to an agreement and encouraged them to continue negotiating.
"This has gone on long enough.… I think that they understand the issues that we have been talking about and the growing class complexity and the need for additional support," Becotte said. "It just comes down to that political will of committing to funding those and committing for over a period of time."
Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill agreed that binding arbitration is a longer process than coming to an agreement at the bargaining table.
"Obviously binding arbitration doesn't get everything done tomorrow or next week. But what it does do is it sets us on a clear path to completion," Cockrill said Thursday.
"And I think whether you're a teacher or parent or a student or even just, you know, any Saskatchewan resident who watches and reads the news, I think everybody wants a clear path forward."
Cockrill said the province has updated its mandate multiple times during negotiations with the STF.
"Our government has tried throughout this process to show that we're committed to making sure supports are available. We've increased that number several times. And again, when it comes to certainty going forward, that's what really we see binding arbitration as," Cockrill said.
Binding arbitration discussed in past
Earlier in negotiations, the teachers had called for binding arbitration and the government rejected the proposal. On Thursday, Becotte said the situation was very different at the time.
"The context changes very quickly. Back in March, we hadn't, in my perspective, experienced bargaining at the table," Becotte said.
"There hadn't been any good faith negotiations with back and forth presenting proposals. And so we saw [binding arbitration] as the only option to move the process forward. Whereas now, we've had a full week back in May of good faith negotiations, back and forth conversations."
The two sides reached a tentative agreement on May 17 that included salary increases of three per cent in each of the first two years and two percent in the third year.
A proposed task force on classroom complexity and a letter of understanding on violence-free classrooms was also part of the offer. The proposed contract did not address class size, a key issue for teachers.
The proposal was endorsed by the STF but was rejected by rank-and-file teachers in vote results announced on May 30. Teachers also rejected a different contract offer earlier in the year.
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With files from Kevin O'Connor