Education Minister Gord Wyant says class size can’t be included in a contract offer with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation because legislation prevents that from happening, but the President of the STF doesn’t believe that’s true.

Wyant says it could be done locally but not provincially. Patrick Maze points out the legislation reads that it can be included if both sides agree to it and it has been discussed extensively in this round of bargaining.

He explains it’s not just about class size but class composition with some classes having more students with higher needs. Maze says many teachers go home after putting out fires all day feeling like they haven’t been effective, and it happens day after day.

The province has offered a one per cent increase in the first year of the contract, which would be this school year, followed by two years with a two per cent increase each year and a $1,500 bonus for full-time teachers in the first year. Maze believes the one per cent is from the last contract where that amount was awarded at the end of two years with no increase, to begin on the last possible day of the second year. In essence, that one per cent increase began this month. The STF has proposed two per cent in the first year and three per cent in the second and third year,

The $1,500 bonus comes from the Teachers Health Plan which has a bit of a surplus, Maze says. He would rather it remain in case of unpredicted circumstances, rather than giving taking it out of the Health Plan, which is a separate account, and giving it to teachers as a cash bonus.

(CJWW)