As students were heading into Easter break, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the ministry of education were hoping to return to the bargaining table. However, STF president Samantha Becotte expressed concerns that the recent offer from the government was once again a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal. The government had offered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create an accountability framework for a multi-year funding agreement, but the STF wanted this framework to be binding in the contract. The STF feared that without binding agreements, past experiences showed that the government could backtrack on their promises.
The government of Saskatchewan stated that they had invited the STF to resume negotiations, with an offer to allow teachers to have direct input in developing the accountability framework for classroom supports. Despite ongoing conversations about returning to the bargaining table, both parties seemed to be at a standstill. University of Regina professor Andrew Stevens suggested that the government still had options such as bringing in an arbitrator or passing legislation to close negotiations. On the STF side, Stevens mentioned that increased job action or even a full strike could be possibilities.
Stevens also pointed out the concern raised by the STF about the MOU not being binding, allowing the government to make decisions without any obligations in the future. The lack of accountability in the funding model raised alarms for the teachers, who were worried about the potential implications. The government seemed confident in their approach, indicating that they believed they could achieve their goals through the current collective bargaining process without resorting to binding arbitration.
The STF remained wary of the government’s intentions, as past experiences with MOUs being reneged on had left them cautious. The STF was pushing for the accountability framework to be legally binding within the contract to ensure that agreements were honored in the long term. As both parties appeared to be at a stalemate, the possibility of further escalation, such as increased job action or a full strike, loomed on the horizon. The future of negotiations between the STF and the government remained uncertain, with potential options including arbitration or legislative interventions.
