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teacher deal

Government announces tentative deal with teachers

Apr 22, 2020 | 3:47 PM

There appears to be deal between the government and the province’s teachers.

The Ministry of Education announced Wednesday afternoon the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee and the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee met and reached a tentative Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement.

According to a media release, the next steps include the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation taking the agreement to its 13,000 teacher members to vote on the new contract.

“This tentative agreement balances our respect and appreciation for teachers with the fiscal realities of the province,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “The terms of our offer mean that Saskatchewan teachers will have stability for years to come and be paid at five per cent above the Western Canadian Average.”

The four-year tentative agreement includes a two per cent salary increase in years two, three and four.

In a media release issued later Wednesday Patrick Maze, President, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation said, in part, “while the proposed settlement does not fully address all items the TBC sought resolution on in this round of bargaining, given the uncertainty caused by the pandemic the TBC felt it was necessary for members to vote on this offer.”

If ratified, the new agreement would be effective from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2023.

On March 9 teachers made their first moves to enact earlier threatened job action amid the dispute over class complexity. Later, all school sports were cancelled.

panews@jpbg.ca

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