Arbitration board rules class complexity will be part of new Sask. teacher contract: STF

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) says an arbitration board has ruled that class complexity will be part of the new contract between Saskatchewan teachers and the provincial government.

The STF says the arbitration board has directed the STF and provincial negotiators to come to an agreement on the language around class complexity provisions.

If the two sides cannot come to an agreement, they will return to the arbitration board.

A class complexity fund of $20 million per year will also be provided in addition to all other provincial funding, STF says.

Teachers have also been awarded a salary increase of nine per cent over three years: four per cent retroactive to Sept. 1, 2023, three per cent retroactive to Sept. 1, 2024, and two per cent of as of Sept. 1, 2025, STF says.

STF president Samantha Becotte says the complexity decision as a win for teachers.

"With this ruling, we now have the opportunity to negotiate on class complexity. Likewise, the government now has a responsibility to negotiate on this issue," Becotte said.

Becotte said this decision is "a decade in the making," as prior to this agreement teacher contracts in every province except Alberta and Saskatchewan contained clauses directly addressing class size, class composition and violence-free work environments.

She said the funds will be used in a number of ways.

"Additional teachers within schools that will provide support for unique student needs and students requiring additional supports," she said. "As well [the] classroom complexity fund will provide more broader support around professional supports that are needed within different local contexts."

Becotte said the nine per cent pay raise over three years still doesn't give teachers the purchasing power they had in 2017, and falls short of what other sectors of the workforce have received.

"When we compare to other professions in Saskatchewan or just other workers, teachers are still lagging in comparison to others within Saskatchewan."

Minister pleased with report

In an email to CBC, Education Minister Everett Hindley said he was pleased with arbitrators' report.

"The report was largely in line with what was offered in the previous tentative agreement," Hindley said.

"We are looking forward to getting the agreement ratified and moving forward to working on common goals that create the best possible learning environment for Saskatchewan students such as improving K-3 literacy in Saskatchewan schools."

Opposition Leader Carla Beck said the report shows there is an "admission that there is a need to invest in class size and complexity, something that we've known for for a very long time."

Beck said the investment is long overdue.

"It's something that parents understand that the under-funding over a decade by the Sask. Party has meant that that children right across this province are not getting the supports that they need in schools."

Teachers in Saskatchewan have been without a contract since August 2023. 

The STF organized rotating strikes and job action throughout the first half of 2024.

In June 2024, the two sides agreed to to arbitration on teachers' pay and a classroom complexity-accountability framework.

Arbitration began in Saskatoon in December.