Sask. teachers to begin provincewide work-to-rule Monday. What can you expect? | By Pratyush Dayal, CBC News
Saskatchewan teachers are gearing up for a province-wide work-to-rule action set to begin on Monday after hitting an impasse in contract negotiations with the government school board bargaining team. This decision comes after teachers rejected two proposed contracts, leaving them without a contract since last August.
Work-to-rule entails teachers refraining from providing voluntary services, including lunch supervision, and adhering to a strict schedule that starts 15 minutes before the bell rings and ends 15 minutes after. This action will result in the suspension of various extracurricular activities such as school sports, drama, music, band, and student leadership activities.
School divisions across the province are making adjustments to accommodate the upcoming work-to-rule action. Measures include a compressed schedule with early dismissals to minimize disruption to families and ensure student safety. Additionally, schools will limit supervision to 15 minutes before and after school, impacting bus transportation pick-up times.
In response to the impasse, Saskatchewan Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill expressed the government’s willingness to return to the bargaining table to seek a resolution. The situation remains tense as negotiations have faltered in the past, with both parties failing to agree on key issues such as salary increases and classroom complexity.
Despite a tentative agreement reached in May that included salary raises and measures to address classroom challenges, rank-and-file teachers rejected the proposed contract, emphasizing the ongoing discontent among educators. The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, representing approximately 13,000 teachers in the province, continues to advocate for fair working conditions and educational standards.
As the province braces for the work-to-rule action, uncertainty looms over the future of education in Saskatchewan. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
For more news and updates, follow Pratyush Dayal on CBC News and Instagram.