Sask. teachers' union, province speak as negotiations falter again
CTV
Saskatchewan Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says before talks stalled once again between the province and Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), an updated mandate was provided where the province had moved on several items.
Saskatchewan Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says before talks stalled once again between the province and Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF), an updated mandate was provided where the province had moved on several items.
Cockrill said that included salary and “other items” as well as a clear sentiment that any renewed offers would not include movement on classroom size and complexity.
“They (STF bargaining committee) agreed to come back to the table, we had a meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday that was the agreed upon time, we showed up at 1 p.m. and began to share the movement that we made on several items and by 1:30 p.m. we were the only ones left in the room,” Cockrill said during a Wednesday morning news conference.
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) meanwhile accused the province of not showing up to the bargaining table on Tuesday evening.
Aside from salary, teachers have stated their biggest concerns surround classroom size and complexities – two issues the province has said it will not discuss at the bargaining table.
“Over the last several months government has made some investments to address some of the challenges that we’re seeing in classrooms around enrollment growth and around complexity,” Cockrill said.
According to Cockrill, the province has added $40 million to school divisions for the current year to address growth and enrollment as well as complexity issues.
