Government, STF reach ‘tentative agreement’ at bargaining table

On Friday, the provincial government announced that this week’s bargaining has resulted in a “tentative agreement” with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.

Both sides returned to the bargaining table this week after teachers resoundingly rejected the government’s previous offer, which included an eight per cent pay increase over three years.

While few details of the latest offer were shared, the Ministry of Education said it addresses some of the primary sticking points.

“The tentative agreement encompasses various key matters discussed during recent negotiations, reflecting the collaborative efforts of both parties to address the needs of students, families, and teachers across Saskatchewan,” the ministry said in a statement.

More details will be “documented in a timely manner to prepare for ratification,” the ministry added.

“We all worked very hard over the course of this week on both sides of the table to get to the point where we would be able to announce a tentative agreement,” said STF president Samantha Becotte during a news conference on Friday. 

“This has been a challenging process for everyone involved, I’m not immune from that. I’m excited to present the details to members and have them have their voice within this process,” she said. 

The STF will hold town halls next week to present the new deal to members. The vote on the tentative agreement will happen May 29 and 30. 

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill thanked teachers, parents and students for their patience during the long-running contract dispute.

“I am hopeful that the tentative agreement will be finalized so that predictability is provided to families and teachers,” Cockrill said.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is expected to make a statement Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the union’s members voted this week to give leadership a mandate to implement sanctions beyond the current school year if necessary, until a new contract is agreed on.