A one-day provincewide strike by teachers is scheduled for today (Wed), the same day the provincial budget is being announced, and that will be followed by a two-day withdrawal of extracurricular activities on Thursday and Friday, also provincewide, and the STF has also added on a rotating one-day strike now for Friday for the Lloydminster Public, Lloydminster Catholic and Horizon school divisions. STF President Samantha Becotte says more than 4,000 teachers will deliver a strong message to government at the Legislative Building in Regina today, while hundreds more will take part in demonstrations at other locations.

A busload of students from Preeceville, Sturgis and Norquay protested in Saskatoon Tuesday in front of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation head office. For the first time, both the Preeceville high school boys and girls basketball teams have qualified for Hoopla in Moose Jaw. However, the provincial tournament will be cancelled unless the STF agrees to rescind a decision not to have extra-curricular supervision on Thursday and Friday. The deadline is three o’clock this afternoon. The Optimist Band Festival is also being held in Regina this week.

Becotte has said previously the government’s unwillingness to work with teachers in finding any path forward on class size and complexity being entrenched in a contract has forced their decision to continue with job action. The government says it’s the teachers who aren’t coming back to the bargaining table.