The Saskatchewan Federation of Teachers releases details of proposed contract – 620 CKRM

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has made public details of the preliminary provincial collective agreement reached between the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee and the Government’s Board of Trustees.

This agreement, covering a three-year period from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2026, is a significant step forward in addressing key issues facing teachers, students and families in Saskatchewan, the STF said in a news release.

STF President Samantha Becotte acknowledged that while the challenges in public education have taken a decade to develop and will not be solved in a single agreement, the initial agreement represents important progress. One of the main issues raised is class complexity. To ensure transparency and teacher involvement in the allocation of funds, the STF, the government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) will sign an Accountability Framework. This will be attached to the Provincial Collective Agreement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Additionally, the agreement includes an allocation of $18 million per year to address class complexity, which will be added to the multi-year funding agreement (MFA) previously signed by the government and SSBA. Another important aspect is the establishment of the Minister’s Classroom Complexity Task Force, made up of teachers, students and parents, to provide direct input into the underfunding issues facing public schools. The Task Force will submit a final report with solutions to the Minister of Education.

To address the issue of violence in classrooms, a political table on violence-free classrooms will be established, chaired by the Ministry of Education and including representatives of the STF and SSBA. This table will define the scope of the topic, establish definitions, collect data, and establish a reporting schedule.

The tentative agreement also outlines teacher pay increases: three percent for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years and two percent for 2025-26. Other provisions include the Employee Benefits Plan, updated grievance procedures, the roles of directors and deputy directors, and the ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ preamble.

STF members will take part in the ratification vote on May 29 and 30, and the results will be announced on the evening of May 30. This agreement is a key step towards improving public education in Saskatchewan.