Saskatchewan teachers are calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to agree to binding arbitration.

Specifically, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation wants binding arbitration around the issues of class size and complexity. The STF says if the government agrees then teachers will immediately suspend job action and negotiations will proceed with the remaining items on the table, which would result in a new collective bargaining agreement.

Both parties have to agree to binding arbitration for it to proceed.

In a news release, Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte says, “To put this in clear terms: if government refuses binding arbitration, then Minister Cockrill and Premier Moe are choosing to cancel school trips, graduation planning, band festivals, Hoopla and so many more of this year’s activities that bring joy to our students and school communities.”   Hoopla is a provincial basketball tournament.

The STF describe it as a single-issue dispute and if the government agrees to binding arbitration for class size and complexity, then they will return to negotiations and cease rotating strike action which has primarily impacted lunch hour supervision and extracurricular activities.

And if the government agrees, then they would negotiate on all other items and that a tentative agreement could be brought forward to STF members while waiting for a decision from the arbitrator.  The arbitrator’s decision would then be added into the agreement. The STF wants the deal done by Sunday and says if the impasse continues sanction actions will increase.