School was out across the North East School Division as teachers went on strike for the day. (submitted photo/Jessica Griffin)

By Susan McNeil

One day strike

North East teachers find support in one-day strike

Jan 16, 2024 | 5:12 PM

(submitted photo/Jessica Griffin)

Teachers across the North East School Division found some public support today as they held their one-day strike, announced last week.

Dave Rogers, president of the North East Teachers’ Association, said that along with horn honks, people brought out coffee and donuts on a chilly Tuesday.

“The hope is this will wake up the provincial government to the support that people have for education and the desires they have for their students to be properly funded and to go to schools that have the supports the students need to be successful,” Rogers said.

Like many other teachers, the ones not in school today are looking for more supports and smaller class sizes.

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While hopeful the Ministry of Education will get the message that teachers want to work a deal at the bargaining table, Rogers said that they are prepared for more action if needed.

“You can bet that we’re going to be ready to do it again,” he stated.

Demonstrations started at 10 am and continued until 2 pm and were held across the province as the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation notched up the pressure on the provincial government to return to negotiating.

The STF said that how classes are composed is a key negotiating point.

“If we improve class composition, we improve learning conditions for students. This is why teachers in Saskatchewan are out on the streets today, to make sure that every student in this province gets the education they deserve. An education that will prepare them for the modern world,” said Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte in a news release this morning.

Complexity refers to the broad range of needs that a teacher might have to work with in one classroom, which could mean anything from a serious learning disability to a student not speaking English as their first language or giftedness.

Along with complexity, teachers also want to address workload.

These are two issues the STF said that the province is refusing to bargain on, despite a report by the Conciliation Board that states the federation does have the right to negotiate that point.

Teachers in Ontario and Quebec have reached deals that include both class size and complexity.

With files from Ben Tompkins

(submitted photo/Jessica Griffin)

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com