STF President and opposition leaders react to ‘no’ vote from Sask. teachers

Following the results of the vote, Minister Cockrill expressed disappointment with the decision, continuing to call the offer a ‘fair deal’ for teachers. He stood firm on his stance that classroom support and complexity would not be included in the teachers’ contract despite heavy pushes from educators, parents, and students.

Cockrill also said he wanted to understand the priorities and desires of teachers better.

Becotte said while that may seem encouraging on the surface, to her, it shows his indifference.

“The Minister has said that the federation has silenced teachers, but their voice came through loud and clear through this vote and has through their actions over the course of the last year,” she said. “My question is, will this Minister finally listen, or will he continue to ignore the messages from Saskatchewan teachers, their students and their families?”

Becotte said this vote from teachers should be a wake-up call that will push the government’s bargaining committee to come back with a new mandate.

She pointed to recent teacher negotiations in Nova Scotia, where the teachers union threatened job action before the provincial government changed course.

“Now the Nova Scotia Teachers Union is presenting a tentative agreement to their membership for potential ratification,” she said. “I would love that to happen now. So, at every point in time throughout this process, government has had the opportunity to change course. I hope that they are reflecting and really considering the course of action that they have taken and what their next steps are going to be.”

The province and the teacher’s negotiating team have expressed a desire to return to the table, although no official date has been set.

With this eagerness to resume bargaining, the STF has not yet introduced any sanctions. However, if negotiations do not happen or fall through, the federation will give at least 48 hours of job action.

When asked if potential sanctions could impact upcoming graduation ceremonies, Becotte could not give a clear answer, stating it’s her hope that doesn’t happen.

“If government and the School Boards Association are refusing to engage in that process, then we have no other option but to take additional sanctions and it would be very disappointing if we’re forced to take those actions,” she said. “But there is a way, there is another way that we can resolve this.”

After the vote results were made public, the Saskatchewan NDP immediately criticized the Sask. Party government, with leader Carla Beck calling the rejection of the offer “a clear message to the Scott Moe government – he’s failed our education system and it’s time for change.”

Last month, Beck called for Cockrill to resign as Education Minister because of the lack of progress on teacher negotiations and comments he made to a Regina mother who lost her daughter earlier this year.

When asked if she had the same sentiment, Becotte said she wants a positive relationship with whoever oversees the education portfolio.

“It doesn’t matter who that person is as long as they have the student’s best interest at heart and are actively working to improve the experiences in classrooms across the province.”

Meanwhile, Nadine Wilson, leader of the Saskatchewan United Party said she was disappointed in the teachers’ vote, adding that students are negatively affected.

“It’s the families and students that are feeling the greatest impact,” she said in a statement. “It’s important for the teachers and the government to keep talking and come up with a plan that looks after the students’ needs and ensures their learning doesn’t suffer.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

by Derek Craddock

STF President and opposition leaders react to ‘no’ vote from Sask. teachers

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