Third day of one-day strikes sees Battlefords teachers back on the picket line

In addition to looking for improvements to complex classrooms and classroom size, the teachers’ union also wants a salary increase to compensate for the impact of inflation. The STF is asking for an increase of two per cent per year plus an adjustment for cost of living or the consumer price index (CPI). The province estimates the federation is requesting a 23.5 per cent increase over four years, while it is offering seven per cent over three years.

Grade 8 student Rhett Cawood from North Battleford Comprehensive High School was walking with his dad Eric Cawood, a local teacher and member of the STF, today.

“I feel like this has gone on for way too long,” Rhett said. “They need to start talking again.”

He added “the break has kind of been nice with no classes,” but noted it’s time for some resolution.

Micheal Hagel, president of the Tri-West Teachers’ Association and member of the STF executive, said he saw a few students handing out cookies to those taking part in the strikes.

“It’s good to see their support too,” he said. “They’re concerned about their education as well. They want to see things get better.”

Hagel added “it’s great to see the public’s support,” as some people driving by honked their horns when they saw the teachers walking.

“I feel the teachers are still positive, and have a positive attitude,” he said. “We’re just hoping that the government will come to the table willing to negotiate and talk, not just give an offer and not move from it.”

On the the strike impacting students, Hagel said “missed days will have an impact on students, but also government underfunding education has been having an impact on students for years. That’s the major concern.”

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill told battlefordsNOW he is concerned about the strikes and how they affect students’ education.

“I think it’s really unfortunate,” he said. “The real losers in all of this are the kids at school that can’t attend classes, can’t participate in extracurricular activities. If this is really all about the kids, then the adults on both sides need to return to the bargaining table and continue talking, and trying to hammer out a deal. It’s not a good thing for our kids, especially in our community, to be missing school.”

Cockrill added the teachers’ job walk off is “obviously disappointing.”

“It’s not where we would like to be, but we’ve been waiting at the table for the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation leadership to come back to the table, and hopefully they do that soon.”

Cockrill noted the teachers’ job action last week occurred during an exam week for many school divisions around the province.

“The Ministry [of Education] is going to work with school divisions across the province in terms of if there’s any impact to students in their last year of high school,” he said.

“Again, this illustrates exactly the whole challenge with everything that’s going on,” Cockrill added. “Instead of our kids being in class today in the Battlefords, they weren’t, and we had teachers walking the picket line. It’s unfortunate that the union leadership is choosing to do this, because it really does have negative impacts on the children and youth in our community.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

Third day of one-day strikes sees Battlefords teachers back on the picket line

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