With the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation setting a deadline of 3:30 Wednesday afternoon before starting sanctions that will see teachers basically working the school day and nothing before or after, the provincial government is coming to the table with a new offer—-one that they say will put them five percent above the average salary in Western Canada.

The offer includes a one-time payment of $1,500 in the first year with a raise of two percent over the next three years.

A release from the government says this offer balances the government’s appreciation and respect of teachers with the responsible fiscal management that taxpayers expect and other unions have accepted.

Teachers will be reporting 15 minutes before the school bell rings to start the day and leaving 15 minutes after the last bell rings if no agreement is reached by the end of the day.

This means many extra-curricular activities are being cancelled with it looking right now like high school basketball playoffs and provincials will not occur with many other activities also coming to a halt.

The two sides are not speaking today.