Gov’t more positive about deal than STF

After the province made its final offer to teachers and the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation agreed to take the tentative agreement to its members for a vote, the province was sounding more positive about the deal than the teachers.

“This was very clear from the GTBC that this is their final offer,” said Samantha Becotte, President of the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation. “There was no willingness to find further solutions within the bargaining process that addressed the concerns that teachers have brought forward in this.”

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill sounded more positive. “What we have here today is a tentative agreement,” said Cockrill.

“We have an agreement that came out of a couple days of bargaining,” he said. “I’ve been clear all along that the best deal is going to come from the bargaining table and it was incredibly encouraging to have both of our bargaining teams spend a couple days at the bargaining table.”

Both sides recognized the strain on relationships the entire process has taken.

“The bargaining process has taken a toll on the sector,” Becotte said.

“The actions that we have seen from government, the actions from Saskatchewan School Boards Association, and the actions of some division administrations have shown a lack of respect and appreciation for teachers in Saskatchewan and a lack of appreciation for the work that they do with such skill in classrooms across Saskatchewan. Relationships have been damaged and they will not be easily repaired.”

Cockrill’s response was to take action—he said he will hit the pavement, visit communities across the province, and try to restore those damaged ties in person.

“I’m going to get back out on the road and be working to build relationships,” he said. “You build relationships and build trust by showing up. There’s not a lot of winners when it comes to bargaining, and I think nobody’s lost more throughout this whole process than our kids in this province.

“I’m absolutely committed to being out on the ground and building those relationships; building the trust between school boards, teachers, myself, other professionals in the sector, and parents as well, to ensure that we’re all working together to really improve education as best as possible.”

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Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The World-Spectator