Teachers in Sask. to begin provincewide work-to-rule on Monday

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) says all teachers in the province will begin work-to-rule on Monday in what the organization's president called a "serious" escalation in job action.

The work-to-rule will continue indefinitely, STF president Samantha Becotte said during a Friday afternoon news conference.

Becotte stressed it wasn't an easy decision, but said it was necessary after discussions with provincial negotiators once again fell apart this week.

"These actions only provide more evidence that this government doesn't care about resolving negotiations with teachers. They don't want to be held accountable to any of their commitments because they don't care about students or about public education," said Becotte.

The contract dispute between teachers and the province is at an impasse over the issues of classroom complexity and size. The government has said these issues should be dealt with by the local school boards and is not willing to make them part of contract negotiations.

Teachers began job action in mid-January with one-day provincewide strikes, followed by a series of rotating strikes and withdrawals of voluntary duties.

What is work-to-rule?

Work-to-rule means that 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.

An end to voluntary services means no sports, drama, music, band, science clubs, intramurals, rehearsals, student leadership activities, planning for graduation celebrations, books fairs, and other clubs and activities, according to Becotte.

How that will affect the plans for individual schools or school divisions is unclear. Becotte said she urges divisions to communicate their plans as soon as possible.

Negotiations fall apart

Becotte said the decision comes after a series of discussions between STF and the provincial government this week ended on Friday. 

The province rejected the STF's request for a line that would guarantee $356.6 million in annual funding addressing class complexity would continue beyond this fiscal year.

"[Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill] keeps saying that they are committed to carrying out these agreements, but when the actions of government continually contradict their words it's difficult to trust anything that they say these days," said Becotte.

That funding, which was part of a memorandum of understanding signed by the provincial government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, is an increase of $45 million from last year's budget.

The funding beyond this fiscal year is subject to appropriation, meaning it could be removed as part of the budgeting process.

Becotte said the STF received a "No" to the request on Friday afternoon. She said she hopes the work-to-rule announcement forces the province back to the bargaining table.

In a statement, Cockrill described the news of escalating job action as "disappointing."

He said that the STF is "moving the goal posts and prioritizing job action that will directly impact students and families instead of returning to the bargaining table."

Cockrill reiterated that the province's bargaining committee remains at the table, ready to negotiate.