February 29, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Release: Chinook School Division ignoring Saskatchewan
Information and Privacy Commissioner recommendations

SWIFT CURRENT: Following the release of a recent report from Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, CUPE is calling on the Chinook School Division to adhere to the commissioner’s recommendations, stop stalling, and get back to the bargaining table.

Contract negotiations have stalled since the school division refused to provide out-of-scope salary information to CUPE 4754, representing school division support staff.

When these records were sought through an access to information request, the division cited sections of The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP) as rationale for withholding the information.

The Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner reviewed the request and in his Review Report 237-2023 found that the Chinook School Division had inappropriately applied sections of the act and recommended the release of the records, in its entirety, within 30 days. That deadline has passed, and the division has not adhered to the
commissioner’s recommendations and released the records in full.

“The dedicated education support workers in the Chinook School Division just want a fair deal that allows them to keep pace with the rising cost of living,” said Omar Murray, president of CUPE 4754. “These members serve their school communities with pride, and they just want to get a fair deal that allows them to get back to the work they love.”

“Instead of meaningful dialogue at the bargaining table, the division is playing games and continues to withhold information that would help get a fair deal for everyone,” said Dave Stevenson, CUPE National Representative. “The commissioner’s recommendations were clear – the division should release the records in its entirety so we can get back to negotiating a fair and equitable collective agreement.”

For more information, please contact:
Katherine Norton at 306-510-6706

CUPE 4754

BARGAINING INFORMATION MEETING

CUPE LOCAL 4754 will be holding bargaining information meetings at the following times and locations.

Feb 12 

8:30 am -Leader School

10:00 am -Burstall School

12:00 -Fox Valley School

2:15 pm -Maple Creek Bus garage

Feb 13

2:15 pm -MCCHS

3:00 pm -Sidney School

Feb 14

8:30 am -Gull Lake bus

12:15 – Herbert

2:00 pm – Hodgeville

Please contact your local rep for more information

MEMO_CUPE ED LOCALS_CUPE Solidarity as Teachers Implement Rotating Strike, Withdraw Noon-hour Supervision_Feb 6, 2024_FINAL

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation
2317 Arlington Avenue, Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 Canada
E: stf@stf.sk.ca T: 306-373-1660 or 1-800-667-7762
www.stf.sk.ca

Government Data Proves Supports for Students Are Woefully Insufficient

SASKATOON – Newly released data from the Ministry of Education paints a bleak picture of the supports,
including teachers, that are available for the province’s growing student population. An analysis of the
Government’s Education Sector Staffing Profile, posted online yesterday, and its 2023-24 Provincial K-12
Enrolment Summary shows:• The number of teachers is not keeping pace with the number of students, despite the addition of 218
full-time equivalent teachers this school year.
o Since 2016-17 the student population has grown by more than 15,000 students or 8.8
percent. Yet, FTE teachers only increased by 0.1 percent.
o In 2023-24, Saskatchewan has just 10 more FTE regular classroom teachers than we did in
2016-17, but over 15,000 more students.
*Above includes Sask DLC.

• A further overall decrease of professionals, including counsellors, psychologists and speech-language
pathologists. Saskatchewan lost six specialists from these fields from 2022-23 to 2023-24. Within
this group:
o The decline of counsellors was 14.4 FTE or 7.7 percent.
o The number of specialists who are also certified teachers decreased from 112 in 2022-2023
to 95 in 2023-24, or 15.5 percent.

• English as an additional language teachers saw an increase from 124 to 142, or 14 percent; however,
we are unable to conduct an analysis as government has not released statistics on the number of EAL
students since 2018-19, despite repeated requests.
o Teacher and student experiences report that the number of EAL teachers is still significantly
lower than what is needed to meet students’ needs.
“This further validates what teachers, students and parents are saying about the reality of today’s classrooms.
Students deserve better than this,” says Samantha Becotte, STF President. “Short-changing tomorrow’s
workforce is extremely short-sighted, but Government can choose to fix these issues. It starts by addressing
class size and complexity and guaranteeing long-term, sustainable education funding.”
The bleak picture painted by student enrolment and staffing numbers is further compounded by a changing
student population. Not only is the number of teachers and specialists falling far behind student enrolment
growth, the number of students with intensive needs has grown by more than 38 percent over a 10-year
period (2007-08 to 2018-19).

“The Sask Party Government caused this problem by cutting per student funding so severely that
Saskatchewan dropped from first to eighth place in the country,” said Becotte. “We know each community is
different and requires unique solutions but without proper funding, school boards aren’t able to address these
problems. This is why we want funding for class size and complexity included in our new agreement. This
would give assurance that government will provide the funding and accountability that school boards will
direct towards classroom supports and students’ needs. If they are committed to addressing these issues,
they should have no problem including it in an agreement.”
The STF continues to urge all parents, students, businesses and community members to contact their MLA,
the Minister of Education, Premier Moe and their locally elected school board trustees and ask them to return
to the table and engage in real negotiations.
Data STF used in its analysis can be found in the Education Sector Staffing Profile and the 2023-24 Provincial
K-12 Enrolment Summary.
– 30 –

 CUPE remains united with teachers to improve public education after years of Sask. Party government underfunding and cuts.

“The Sask. Party has created a crisis in education by their failed record of underfunding and cuts, and now they are failing to negotiate with teachers on the concern we all share with learning conditions. It’s time for the Sask. Party government to end their disrespect and return to the bargaining table ready to meaningfully discuss class size and complexity with the STF. It’s time for the Minister of Education to listen to the concerns of teachers, echoed by thousands of education support staff, students and parents,” said Judy Henley, CUPE Saskatchewan President.

Public education is at a breaking point after years of underfunding and cuts by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party Government. Saskatchewan went from first to second lowest per-student funding in Canada under the Sask. Party government, taking a toll on learning conditions and education staff morale. Teachers, along with CUPE education support workers, have witnessed the impact and are standing up together for the needs of students.

“CUPE education support workers across this province are united with teachers in their demand to address class size and complexity through collective bargaining. The Sask. Party must finally learn a lesson in respect: collective bargaining for working conditions is a right of all workers, and access to improved learning conditions and supports for students is the right thing to do,” said Omar Murray, chair of the CUPE Saskatchewan Education Workers’ Steering Committee.

CUPE represents over 7,000 education support workers in Saskatchewan’s K-12 education system and 31,000 members delivering a variety of public services across the province.

We encourage all CUPE members to show their support for the STF by participating in the online Advocacy Day, sharing posts on social media, or attending an event near you. If you are an education support worker and have questions about how the STF job action might impact you, please reach out to your local union.

.

How can we as CUPE members support the teachers?

-the best way to support the teachers is to NOT do any jobs that are currently STF duties. Teaching and Planning classes are the obvious ones, but noon supervision, that an STF member is scheduled for, is another less obvious because our members also do noon supervision. Make sure that you are not picking up any shifts that were formerly a teachers schedule.

-You can also support them by walking the line with them, BUT NOT ON YOUR WORK TIME, you can join a line on your lunch break because that is your free time.

-Snacks and warm drinks are always appreciated

-Just a friendly /kind word that you are supporting them. Someday the tables may be turned and we will want their support.

There have been some questions about what happens if the teachers walk out .

While the teachers are out, the support staff should come to work as normal, unless otherwise directed and you will be paid for the day. You may be given a different assignment, as long as it is within your job description.

Support staff should not take on any duties currently provided by an STF member. An example of duties might include teaching or planning a class.

If you have any questions, please contact me by my personal email. It is not appropriate to answer any questions on the employer’s email system.

Thank you.

OMAR
Pres Local 4754
omar.murray13@outlook.com

We have recently added our local to Union Savings. register and see the deals they offer.

To start click on this link     Union Savings

The Union Savings Program is a not-for-profit union discount program run by Canadian unions, which provides exclusive discounts for union members and their families. It currently works with over 190 unions, locals, and associations across Canada, ranging from large public and private sector unions to small regional and local associations¹. The program is free for unions to join and free for members to use. There are no set-up fees, no administration fees, and no per-member fees. From there, Union Savings works with the unions to develop a promotions strategy¹.

As you have most likely heard, the STF has given a 5 day notice of intention to walk out in an attempt to encourage meaningful bargaining and to allow parents and caregivers a chance to adjust if necessary.

The walk-out is scheduled to happen on Tuesday Jan 16.

Please remember that CUPE stance is not to take on any duties currently provided by an STF member.

Support staff needs to report to work unless given other direction by their employer.  Please make sure that your members are not being directed to do work of other classifications on this day.

Discussions have been held with the STF and they are aware that CUPE members need to report to work and therefore cross any picket lines that may be in place.  We would encourage members to use other doors to enter the school where possible so that physically crossing the line is avoided.  Administrators should be available to walk members across the line if necessary.

If your local receives instructions from the employer that are vastly different that what is in this memo, please contact the EWSC Chair omar.murray13@outlook.com ) or Janice Janzen (jjanzen@cupe.ca) so that we know what is happening around the province.