Sask. teachers announce withdrawal of noon hour supervision Tuesday

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Nine school divisions in the province will be affected by the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation’s (STF) withdrawal of noon hour supervision on Tuesday.

A Saturday release from the STF said lunch break supervision is often done by teachers, principals and vice principals on a voluntary basis, although it is the responsibility of the school division. During this job action, members will not be available to supervise students who are eating lunch at school or taking part in activities over the lunch hour.

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All schools in Chinook School Division, Horizon School Division, Northern Lights School Division, Northwest School Division, Prairie Spirit School Division, Prairie Valley School Division, Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, Prince Albert Catholic School Division and Sun West School Division will be involved in the withdrawal of noon-hour supervision on Tuesday.

This is in addition to the previously announced provincewide withdrawal of extracurricular activities scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. This job action means STF members will withdraw from all voluntary services including athletics, non-curricular arts, clubs, field trips, student travel and graduation preparation.

In a virtual press conference on Thursday, STF president Samantha Becotte said teachers don’t want to take these actions, but have no choice but to escalate their actions if the provincial government continues to “ignore the big issues.”

“This job action can be stopped immediately when government is ready to negotiate on all issues of importance to teachers, including class size and complexity,” Becotte said in a Thursday news release. “We are asking government to include the offer they made outside of bargaining as part of the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee’s renewed mandate.”

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According to Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill, the province is willing to annualize $53.1 million in funding to assure the STF it will address class size and complexity through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outside of bargaining. However, the union has criticized the MOU, saying it would not be legally binding and could be cancelled by either party with one year written notice.

Teachers from seven school divisions are gathering outside of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Monday — the first day of the spring legislative session — during a one-day rotating strike.

In a Friday news release, Becotte said the province has ignore calls, emails, meeting requests and office visits from teachers, parents and concerned citizens.

“It will be awfully difficult for them to ignore us on Monday as they return for spring session,” Becotte said in the release. “When government is ready to listen and quit ignoring Saskatchewan parents, we are ready to work with them to find solutions that support the students in both today’s classrooms and the classrooms of the future.”

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According to the STF, more than 125,000 emails and phone calls have been delivered to government officials and school board trustees since January.

— With files from Angela Amato

Treynoldson@postmedia.com

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