Teachers were marching in the streets in North Battleford last week as the labour dispute between the province and the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation escalated.
Teachers in elementary and high schools in the province were on strike for two days, Wednesday and Thursday, before returning to the classrooms Friday. Monday, they began a work to rule campaign where they withdrew all voluntary services outside of classroom time, which included extracurricular activities.
Despite the latest disruption, there could be light at the end of the tunnel. Both the STF and the province agreed to go back to the bargaining table Sunday to try again to settle the ongoing dispute.
Education Minister Donna Harpauer confirmed to the News-Optimist Friday that negotiations were resuming between the province and the teachers' federation. Harpauer called that step a positive sign and said she was "very optimistic and very hopeful" a deal could be made.
"The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation has agreed they are returning to the bargaining table," Harpauer said. "So that's great news for Saskatchewan, and Saskatchewan students. We're hoping an agreement can be met."
Tuesday morning both sides agreed to have a mediator brought in to help settle the dispute. The teachers have also agreed to suspend their job action activities, including the work-to-rule campaign, while mediation continues. That means the situation is back to normal in the province's schools, at least for the moment.
Last week saw the height of disruption in the dispute as teachers walked off the job. In North Battleford, members of the TriWest Teachers' Association, representing teachers at Living Sky, Light of Christ and Sakewew, staged a rally and march Thursday morning that began just outside the main public library. About 200 or so teachers were at the rally, according to estimates.
The teachers were there to "express our message and our position and send a message to our decision-makers," said Andrew Sneddon, president of the TriWest Teachers' Association. Their march commenced around 11:30 a.m. along a route that extended down 100th Street, turned east at 11th Avenue past Battlefords Union Hospital, and then eventually made its way back down Railway Avenue and 100th Street back to the library park.
The latest work stoppage comes on the heels of a province-wide May 5 study session held at Don Ross Centre that lasted the entire day.
The work-to-rule campaign is affecting activities such as track meets and field trips, but, according to the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation, graduation events would be impacted .
Sneddon said at the rally that teachers were willing to get back to the bargaining table. "We're always hopeful of a negotiated settlement," said Sneddon. "We're willing to rejoin the parties at the bargaining table at any time."
Despite the news that negotiators were back at the bargaining table, the work-to-rule campaign went on as scheduled Monday. But voluntary activities resumed Tuesday after word that a mediator was brought in to help resolve the dispute.
One of those at the North Battleford rally was Battlefords NDP MLA Len Taylor, who expressed support for the teachers' union. Taylor repeated the NDP position that the province was being disrespectful of teachers in the bargaining process.
"I believe that the provincial government has not been respectful for the process for teachers at this point in time," Taylor said. He added the teachers' contract "needs to be settled respectfully."
Earlier, the province had balked at the demand of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation made last week for a wage increase of 16.3 per cent over a three-year period.
Harpauer said that amounts to $320 million over three years and called that demand "unreasonable and hard to sustain."
She pointed to the deal teachers made in Alberta that Harpauer described as "a very rich deal and unsustainable when there was a downturn in the economy, and they're laying off hundreds and hundreds of teachers."
Harpauer said the most recent offer made by the province is worth more than $100 million over three years. She says the government is prepared to bring additional resources to the bargaining table.
The education minister also last week continued to call on the teachers' federation to ensure further job action does not jeopardize final exams, ensuring students are able to complete the school year.
