Hundreds of Lloydminster and area teachers from the public and Catholic school divisions took part in a one-day Saskatchewan teachers’ strike on Tuesday near the LloydMall to demand the government start to discuss issues such as class size and student resources in their four-year bargaining agreement, yet to be signed. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Read our lips.
Roughly 550 teachers, including 462 from the Lloydminster Public and Catholic school division, joined a one-day province-wide strike of Saskatchewan teachers during frigid temperatures on Tuesday, hoping the government gets the message to return to the bargaining table.
Classes were cancelled and schools were closed for the day.
“This strike is province-wide in Saskatchewan, all 14,500 members are striking today,” said Lloydminster Teachers’ Association president, Derek Armstrong.
The Lloydminster demonstration was bolstered by teachers from other associations in the region.
Many teachers were seen carrying placards parading along 44 St. from the Border Inn and Suites in solidarity to demand the government negotiate better working and learning conditions in publicly funded schools for a new four-year collective bargaining agreement.
“Our employers, our families, our students, the community, we know they are behind us,” said Armstrong.
“We hope we can demonstrate to them how much we care about the students they trust us to care for and that they recognize this fight is for the students.
Armstrong said the one-day job action is the kick-off to tell the government enough is enough.
“Teachers are serious about this,” said Armstrong, who is also vice-principal of Bishop Lloydminster Middle School.
“We care deeply about our students. We care deeply about public education and the system and from years of underfunding over 10 years, it is eroding the public education system.”
Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation president, Samantha Becotte, said in a same-day statement, “It is extremely unfortunate that government has pushed this issue to the point that is now impacting schools.
“Teachers and supporters throughout the province are braving the cold today to advocate for their students and ensure they get the resources they need.”
Armstrong says the teachers’ fight includes getting the government to discuss class size, teaching resources and classroom complexity.
“Compared to 10, 20, 30 years ago when many of us going to school the challenges students are facing today and the needs are increasing and the supports just aren’t there for students,” said Armstrong.
He explains teachers throughout the province are seeing more students with mental health challenges, complex learning needs and an increase in enrolment.
At the same, they are seeing fewer supports, teachers, and educational assistants (EAs) and less access to educational psychologists.
“We are also seeing limited access to speech-language pathologists, so less supports, but more needs.”
Armstrong says they are seeing many schools in Lloydminster with class sizes over 30 students, which he notes is not good for teachers to manage the classroom and have one-on-one time with students.
“It’s not good for the students who need access to the teacher’s time especially when you couple that with less EAs and less additional supports within the schools. It’s too much for one adult to bear.”
Armstrong says their current agreement expired last August, but the terms of that old deal stay intact until a new agreement is signed.
“We’re hoping this process doesn’t last much longer and we can sign a contract and move forward for the next four years,” said Armstrong.
