STF Members to Vote on Final Offer
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) is set to vote on a final offer from the provincial government, after months of negotiations and job action.
The vote, which will take place on March 9 and 10, will determine whether or not the STF will accept the government’s latest offer for a new collective bargaining agreement.
The STF, which represents over 13,000 teachers and educational professionals in the province, has been in negotiations with the government since November 2019. The previous collective agreement expired in August 2019.
In December 2019, the STF began job action, which included teachers refusing to participate in extracurricular activities and administrative duties. This was followed by a one-day strike in March 2020, which saw over 20,000 teachers and supporters rallying at the Saskatchewan Legislature.
Negotiations continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with both sides unable to reach a satisfactory agreement. In December 2020, the STF announced that they would be holding a strike vote, which received an overwhelming 90% support from members.
However, on February 18, the government presented a new offer to the STF, which they described as their “final offer.” The offer includes a 1% salary increase for each year of the three-year agreement, as well as a one-time payment of $1,500 for teachers who have been working during the pandemic.
The STF has not yet released their official stance on the offer, but they have encouraged members to attend the virtual vote and make their voices heard.
In a statement, STF President Patrick Maze said, “We are at a critical point in our negotiations and it is important that all members participate in this vote. Your vote will determine the next steps in this process.”
If the majority of STF members vote to accept the offer, a new collective agreement will be reached. However, if the offer is rejected, the STF will have to decide on their next course of action, which could include further job action or returning to the bargaining table.
The STF vote comes at a time when tensions between the government and teachers’ unions are high, with the government also in negotiations with the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
The results of the STF vote are expected to be announced on March 11.
