Thousands were in attendance at the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation rally in Regina in April. This morning, it was revealed that 95 per cent of teachers voted in favour of job sanctions. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

By CJME News

SANCTIONS COMING

Sask. teachers vote overwhelmingly in favour of sanctions

Oct 27, 2023 | 11:03 AM

Members of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation have overwhelmingly voted in favour of job sanctions.

Of the 90 per cent of the members who voted, 95 per cent cast their ballots in favour of sanctions.

Last week Samantha Becotte, the union’s president, said bargaining with the provincial government had reached an impasse after the province wouldn’t engage with a number of issues raised by the federation.

“Some of them (are) trying to address the significant issues that we have in our schools, specifically class size and complexity, the violence in the classrooms and trying to have meaningful action towards truth and reconciliation,” Becotte explained.

The vote on sanctions was held Tuesday and Wednesday, with the results announced at the federation’s conference Friday morning.

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“I want to be very clear that an obstinate and out-of-touch government is forcing this situation down an
unfortunate path,” Becotte said in a statement.

“Teachers want to negotiate a fair deal at the bargaining table. We are hopeful that the conciliation process will be successful. But the results of this vote send a very clear message. We are united, we are prepared, and we are ready to fight for our colleagues, our students and the families who are struggling in underfunded and under-resourced public schools across Saskatchewan. I want our government to finally listen to what teachers are telling them with this vote: Enough is enough.”

The results of the SFT’s sanctions vote were revealed Friday at a conference in Saskatoon, to applause from the membership. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

The federation didn’t announce specifics about sanctions on Friday morning, but Becotte previously said the measures could range from rotating withdrawal of extracurricular work to a full strike.

The union said it will be holding a rally in Saskatoon on Saturday and another in North Battleford the following weekend.

Becotte also encouraged the public to get in touch with their provincial representatives.

“Call or email your MLA and let them know this isn’t acceptable. Ask them to actually start negotiating and address class size, composition and student needs at the table.”

A response from the provincial government is expected later on Friday.

In previous interviews, Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s minister of education, said he’s concerned about the possibility of a strike and wants to get back to the table and negotiate with the federation.

Despite expressing a desire for bargaining to resume, Cockrill said class size and composition isn’t something the government will address in negotiations.

“We’ve communicated to the (Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation) that that specific topic, we believe, is best managed by local school divisions. That’s not something that we’re looking for in a bargaining agreement,” he said.