Sask. teachers' vote on contract offer starts Wednesday
It’s a fair offer for for our teachers. It’s a it’s a fair offer and a good offer for parents and students across the province. That’s how Premier Scott Moe describes the contract offered to more than 13,000 teachers in the province. Teachers have been without a deal since August 2023 and since January have been carrying out job action. Now the province has offered a contract that would see teachers salaries increase 3% in the 1st and 2nd year, with a 2% increase in the final year. There’s also a provision about honoring and accountability framework to ensure provincial funding is used to benefit students. Most comments this week weren’t a strong endorsement for what’s on the table, but he also signaled what could happen if teachers reject the offer. So it would be, you know, unfortunate if through you know, various. Job action that has occurred, or maybe yet to occur, that that school divisions would have to make difficult choices about maybe extending the school year by, you know, a number of days or weeks. For one Saskatchewan political scientist, most comments show a lack of leadership. Charles Smith says at this point, he doesn’t think anyone is happy. Was proud of this, of this agreement. If there was an endorsement from the union or from teachers themselves, I think we would hear different language. And the STF hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for the offer either. STF President Samantha Becot wasn’t available today, but previously told us she’s staying neutral on the proposal, leaving the votes to the members. So where does that leave teachers? I’m sure they’ve had a conversation about what it would mean if it’s rejected or overwhelmingly what that means going forward because they have the membership has every right to reject it. And if it does, that means we’re back to where we were before the vote, which means. There’s going to have to be new negotiations. They’re going to have to go back to the bargaining table or they’re going to, you know, continue with job action. Teachers start voting Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM, and the last vote must be cast by 6:00 PM on Thursday. Results are expected soon after. Alexander Kwan, CBC News, Regina.