Students at Saskatoon protest voice support for teachers as contract dispute continues
Dozens of students gathered outside on Tuesday to call for action
Enthusiastic honks from passing drivers mixed with chants and cheers from dozens of students as they rallied outside of Saskatchewan Party MLA Don Morgan's office in Saskatoon on Tuesday.
The students gathered in protest of the provincial government and its inability to reach a contract agreement with Saskatchewan teachers.
"We thought that it was time for us to take a stand because they're not listening to our teachers, so we wanted to show that we obviously all stand behind them," said Abbie Shynkaruk, protest organizer and Grade 12 student.
"We're trying to show the government we still stand behind the [Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation] and we want them to go back to the table and negotiate with them."
Students who organized the rally encouraged other youth in the city and around the province to walk out of their classrooms in solidarity with teachers. Organizers said they wanted to raise their voices, because students feel silenced and overlooked by the government.
Many who attended the Saskatoon rally said they have seen firsthand how overcrowded and under-resourced classrooms are affecting their education experience.
They've also lost out on experiences this year because of escalating job action from teachers, which has included cancelled classes and extracurriculars. However, the students at the Saskatoon protest said they don't fault the teachers for that.
"Students aren't upset with the teachers for things like Hoopla and trips and stuff being threatened. We want to show that we're here for the teachers, we respect the teachers," said Grade 12 student Elizabeth Leuschen.
"It's important to understand that sacrifices for our class can be made for the future of every other class that comes after us. Things like this need to be sorted out."
The contract dispute between teachers and the province is at an impasse over the issues of classroom complexity and size.
The government has said these issues should be dealt with by the local school boards and is not willing to make them part of contract negotiations. The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) has said this should be a bargaining issue and points out that other provinces have put it in teacher contracts.
The STF has said members will return to the bargaining table if the government agrees to negotiate on class size and complexity, or if it enters binding arbitration on those issues. That would see both sides make their case to an independent third-party arbitrator, who would then make a decision.
The government has declined binding arbitration. On Friday, Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill said in an email statement that work is being done to "find a pathway forward" with the STF.
The students at Tuesday's protest said they are pushing for a fast resolution.
Anna Cheriyan, who is in Grade 12, said these issues can't be brushed aside. She said she dreams of becoming a teacher one day, but the government's actions have, at times, caused her to reconsider.
"Do I really want to be part of a system that is so overcrowded and is such a difficult job without the pay?" she said.
Cheriyan said she ultimately does still want to teach and that is part of what made the protest on Tuesday so important — it wasn't just for their peers, but also for upcoming generations.
"At the end of the day, it's our neighbours and our nieces and nephews and it's our community members that are going to be impacted by this. And I think it's something really important that's worth fighting for," Cheryian said.
"[It's] a great way to show our support for students and educators, and to tell the government that we want change and we want it now and that we deserve better."
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