The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation will resume bargaining with the government in an effort to carve out a collective agreement.

STF says the decision is a result of ongoing discussions that addressed their concerns around class size and complexity.

STF President Samantha Becotte says, “We have been assured that the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee has a new mandate to properly address all of the issues important to teachers. The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee believes this commitment by government is a positive step.”

Becotte says they are closer to an agreement on all of the topics than they have been in the past and hopes the process continues relatively quickly. She says they have been discussing the concerns the STF had with language in the MOU presented by the government, but they have gotten to the point where some of their concerns were addressed. She says it’s enough progress to return to the bargaining table and have a more fulsome conversation about the proposals that have been brought forward.

Becotte also says she had heard that the school boards in Saskatoon and Creighton were being encouraged to engage in activities that wouldn’t follow sanction action. She says teachers have a Charter right to engage in the job action as well as a Charter right to associate with a labour organization and that the STF has been following what is outlined within the Education Act.

Negotiations with the GTBC are scheduled to resume Tuesday, April 16th and with that job action by teachers is suspended as of 11:59 p.m. (today), Friday, April 12. The STF says it will not implement sanctions while negotiations are taking place.