REGINA - Saskatchewan Teachers Federation is reporting that the Arbitration Board has ruled class complexity will be included as a new article in the Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement.
According to STF’s news release, the Board directed the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to agree on collective agreement language for class complexity. If both sides cannot come to an agreement, the issue will go back to the Arbitration Board.
It has also been ruled there will be a class complexity fund of $20 million per year in addition to all other provincial funding. On salary, teachers will receive an increase of nine percent over three years: four percent retroactive to Sept. 1, 2023; three percent retroactive to Sept. 1, 2024; and two percent as of Sept. 1, 2025.
The two sides has agreed to binding arbitration to settle a months-long teachers’ labour dispute in the province last year, one in which class complexity was a key issue and a major stumbling block.
The teachers had pointed to class complexity language being included in the language of collective agreements in other provinces. STF has called this arbitrator’s ruling historic.
“The collective efforts of so many people throughout the province brought attention to the issues facing Saskatchewan students. This is a hard-won first step to ensure these critical issues will be addressed,” said Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte in a statement.
“This decision is a decade in the making and will have a significant impact on students, teachers and the future of public education in Saskatchewan. I am endlessly proud of and inspired by the teachers and families of this province, and their efforts to improve learning conditions for students and working conditions for teachers.”
Becotte adds they “welcome the chance to work with the GTBC to finalize this important language. We appreciate the dedication and professionalism the Board demonstrated throughout this process.”
