School is back in gear this week after spring break, but Saskatchewan teachers are in work-to-rule mode as collective bargaining talks have stalled on one line.
In Lloydminster, the annual student public speaking event Pecha Kucha has been cancelled with organizers citing the teachers’ job action as the reason.
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) wants the sentence, “The parties agree that the Multi-Year Funding Agreement and the accountability framework will be followed and honoured,” included in the new contract agreement. It sees this as a path back to the bargaining table or seek arbitration. The government is assuring that there are increased investments in classrooms and mechanisms that will allow teachers to have input on the use of the funding.
But the teachers’ union wants these measures put in a binding contract agreement.
Teachers will not participate in any voluntary activity including noon hour supervision. Also, teachers will work from 15 minutes before the school day begins to 15 minutes after the school day ends.
Teachers have been without a contract since last August. Talks on a new collective agreement began in May 2023 and impasses were declared in October and February by the STF.