Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Announces Provincewide Withdrawal of Voluntary Services
Posted: May 27,2011
News Category : External News
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation has announced that all STF members will withdraw voluntary services until further notice, beginning Monday, May 30, 2011.
A withdrawal of voluntary service means that teachers will continue to provide professional service within the school hours as set out in The Education Act, 1995, but will not participate in events scheduled outside of the school day. It is the decision of the school division to reschedule,
cancel or make alternate arrangements regarding events. However, if the decision is to proceed, teachers will not be supporting events beyond school hours. Events scheduled within the school day will continue to occur.
This most recent action comes following three days of full withdrawal of professional service in May brought on by the government’s and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association’s unwillingness to bargain fairly and provide a fair, reasonable and competitive salary for teachers.
“Teachers do not take this action lightly. They, too, enjoy providing these valuable opportunities for students,” said Gwen Dueck, spokesperson for the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee. “All of the actions taken by teachers, including the upcoming withdrawal of voluntary services, are intended to apply pressure on the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee. We are looking for the government and trustees to return to the table, bargain in good faith and bring the resources needed to conclude an agreement that affirms the worth of teachers.”
Saskatchewan teachers have been flexible and are willing to find a solution to the current contract dispute with the government. “We have presented two solutions to the current dispute,” said Dueck. “We are urging the government to either bring sufficient resources to conclude a fair,
reasonable and competitive agreement or agree to enter into binding arbitration.”
The current proposal from Saskatchewan teachers calls for a 16.3 per cent salary increase over three years. This increase would bring teacher salaries in this province to a midway point between the salary levels of Alberta and Manitoba teachers. It would also provide a modest cost of
living increase to help teachers maintain their purchasing power in our growing and robust economy.
Saskatchewan teachers are confident that their salary request would be upheld by an independent third party in binding arbitration. To date, the government and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association have failed to present a solution that demonstrates the importance of teachers, the
publicly funded education system in Saskatchewan and the students that the system serves.
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Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation
2317 Arlington Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7J 2H8
Telephone: 306-373-1660 Facsimile: 306-374-1122