The one-day strike on Wednesday marks the third time in a month teachers have taken such job action. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

demonstration

Third teachers strike in La Ronge comes before job action escalation

Feb 7, 2024 | 5:19 PM

Teachers in La Ronge have once again taken to the streets demonstrating against the provincial government whom they say have turned a blind eye to their demands.

“It’s unfortunate that the government hasn’t listened,” said Saskatchewan Teachers Federation senior administrator Patrick Maze.

“We have been in good faith bargaining for months and months and months, and the government has not budged on their position and they’re not bargaining in good faith …. We’re hoping [teachers] are going to get a renewed commitment from the province to come and negotiate on items that are important to teachers including classroom conditions, working conditions, and getting better supports for our students.”

The government is offering teachers a seven per cent increase in salaries over three years, but nothing more. The one-day strike in La Ronge on Wednesday is the third time within a month teachers have demonstrated in such a way.

On Thursday, teachers throughout the Northern Lights School Division will not offer their voluntary services for lunch hour supervision. Each school has a specific plan to cover their absence with La Ronge’s Pre-Cam Community School and Air Ronge’s Gordon Denny Community School remaining open for lunch with supervision being provided by support staff.

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“Things are going to steadily progress as government refuses to negotiate with us and refuses to send their government trustee bargaining committee to the bargaining table with a mandate to actually to negotiate,” Maze said.

Strikers have been walking up and down La Ronge Avenue, the town’s central business district. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“We have been telling them for years that classroom conditions are not set up for student success and we can do so much more if they fund education properly, so we believe Saskatchewan students have a right and we are standing up for them to make sure they are set up for success.”

Maze explained, overall, the public has been largely receptive to the teacher strike in La Ronge. For instance, he noted one child brought strikers cookies, while local businesses have opened their doors and provided snacks and a place for teachers to warm up.

“It’s frustrating. Nobody wants to be out there. Teachers don’t like doing this,” Maze said.

“We are so proud of our teachers too being out there on the line, and it is cold out and they are doing a good job for their students and hoping to get better supports for our classrooms.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com