The Sask. Teachers Federation has released details regarding the latest tentative bargaining agreement.
After months of back and forth, job action, and walking away from the bargaining table, the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee and the Teachers' Bargaining Committee have found terms both sides find amicable.
They are as follows.
Term of the Tentative Agreement
• Three-year term, from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2026. Classroom Complexity • An Accountability Framework will be signed by the STF, government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and attached to the Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). o This will provide transparency and teacher voice on school divisions’ allocation of funding meant for classroom supports.
• An additional $18 million per year to address classroom complexity will be added to the Multi-Year Funding Agreement (MFA) that was signed by government and SSBA and referenced in the above-mentioned MOU. Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation 2317 Arlington Avenue, Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 Canada E: stf@stf.sk.ca T: 306-373-1660 or 1-800-667-7762 www.stf.sk.ca Page 2 of 2
• Creation of the Minister’s Task Force on Classroom Complexity, which will be attached to the PCBA as a Letter of Understanding (LOU). The Task Force will be comprised of teachers, students and parents. The STF is pleased to have bargained an opportunity that affords teachers, parents and students a voice on their experiences with the underfunding of public schools and to share the challenges of classroom complexity.
o A final report, including solutions, will be presented to the Minister and is intended to ensure direct input from those who deliver education and experience learning.
• A policy table on violence-free classrooms will be established, with terms attached to the PCBA as an LOU.
o The table will be chaired by the Ministry of Education and include representatives from the STF and SSBA.
o It will determine the scope of the issue, definitions, data collection and a reporting schedule.
Salary
• 2023-24: 3 percent
• 2024-25: 3 percent
• 2025-26: 2 percent
While these details are a step in the right direction for the STF's demands, they acknowledged the fact they won't immediately solve everything.
"The challenges in public education took a decade to create, and won’t be all be solved in one agreement," said STF President Samantha Becotte. "The STF Executive believes this tentative agreement makes important steps forward on the most pressing issues facing Saskatchewan teachers, students and families – including class complexity."