The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation issued a release Tuesday morning calling a decision by the Arbitration Board ‘historic’. The decision is calling for class complexity to be included as a new article in the provincial collective bargaining agreement.
The board also called on the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to agree on the language to be used for class complexity in the agreement. If the two sides are unable to come to an agreement, then the matter will be referred back to the Arbitration board.
“We welcome the chance to work with the GTBC to finalize this important language,” said STF President Samantha Becotte in the release. “We appreciate the dedication and professionalism the Board demonstrated throughout this process.”
The issue of class complexity was one of the major sticking points in negotiations between the two sides. Mediation had recommended that it be included in the agreement in October of 2023, but the provincial government refused to have that as part of the discussions. Ultimately an impasse was declared, and the STF initiated job action in January 2024.
The two sides would agree to go to arbitration on wages and the classroom complexity issue last June, ending the job action. The arbitration hearing was held in December.
The arbitration board also ruled on salary. Teachers have been awarded a nine per cent increase over three years. There will be a four per cent increase retroactive to September 1, 2023; a three per cent increase retroactive to September 1, 2024; and a two per cent increase that will take effect on September 1 of this year.
More to come