The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation announced on April 5th that teachers will begin an ongoing work to rule campaign in response to what it calls the government's intransigence in prolonging negotiations for a collective agreement. The work to rule sanction comes into effect today, Monday, April 8, for all schools across the provinces with no stated end date.  

Work to rule means the withdrawal of all voluntary services, including noon hour supervision and extracurricular activities. 

The release from the STF says that the government presented a memorandum of understand for teachers to lay out the terms of an accountability framework to ensure proposed education funding makes it into the classrooms and toward the supports that it is intended for. 

The statement goes on to say that teachers were optimistic that a return to the table with meaningful negotiations was possible. However, the teachers remained adamant about the inclusion of a single line in the contract that would guarantee the agreed upon funding structure and an accountability framework. Short of that agreement, the STF continues to seek binding arbitration, a move the government has not agreed to.  

This government has lost all credibility and believability on the education file,” says Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte. “Since negotiations began last May, they say one thing and do another. They ask us to trust them and then pull the rug out from under our feet. We were cautiously optimistic when they proposed an accountability framework, but they refuse to put a single line in the contract that would actually commit to that accountability. This government has a track record of broken promises, and if they will not commit to their own framework, it shows clearly that they have no intention to follow through with their election-year funding promises.” 

Work to rule sanctions further put in jeopardy extra-curriculars including track and field, teacher participation in grad ceremonies, end of year activities, among others. The STF continues to call upon concerned citizens to connect with local MLAs and the Ministry.