The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation says the Arbitration Board has determined that class complexity will be included as a new article in the Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte describes the decision as a hard-won first step to ensure critical issues are addressed. In a news release she says, “This decision is a decade in the making and will have a significant impact on students, teachers and the future of public education in Saskatchewan.” The Federation says prior to this, the collective agreements of every teacher organization in Canada, except for Alberta and Saskatchewan, contain clauses directly addressing class size, class composition, and/or violence-free work environments.

The STF says in its decision, the Board directed the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee to agree on collective agreement language for the class complexity provisions. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, it will be referred back to the Arbitration Board. As well, a class complexity fund of $20 million per year will be in addition to all other provincial funding. Teachers have also been awarded an increase in salary of 9 per cent over three years: 4 per cent, 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively dating back to 2023.