Teachers' federation says Sask. government billboards misleading - Action News
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Saskatchewan

Teachers' federation says Sask. government billboards misleading

Tensions are rising during negotiations between the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation. Government billboards claim the average teacher's salary is $92,000, which STF president Samantha Becotte says is 'misinformation.'

NDP education critic says ad campaign disappointing

A billboard has the words:
A billboard posted in Saskatoon, pictured on July 27, 2023, claims that the average salary of a teacher in Sask. is $92,000. Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation president Samantha Becotte calls it 'misinformation' that is distracting from the bargaining process. (Albert Couillard/CBC News)

Government billboards claiming the average teacher's salary in Saskatchewan is $92,000 are providing"misinformation" and distracting from the bargaining process, says the head of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF).

"From a taxpayer perspective in this province, we're seeing wasted dollars going toward these frivolous ads that really aren't serving any purpose other than to undervalue the teachers in this province," STF president Samantha Becotte said.

She saidthere are many ways to calculate the average salary of a teacher in the province. Teachers starting out make about $60,000 and to get to the $92,000 mark, they would need multiple degrees and more than 10 years of experience.

Becotte said she wants to see negotiation conversations happening at the table and not on billboards.

Woman standing in front of book shelf
Samantha Becotte, president of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation, says salary is not the only issue on the table during bargaining. Teachers want the government to address class sizes, special services and concerns over growing classroom violence. (Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation)

Teachers are currently engaged in collective bargaining with the province. The STFwasn't satisfied with the province's initial offer of a seven per cent salary increase over three years.

The currentfour-year agreement, which expires at the end of August, included atwo per cent pay raise each year from 2020 to 2022. There was no pay increase for 2019.

Becotte said salary is not the only issue on the table.

Teachers want the government to address class sizes, special services and concerns over growing classroom violence.

A billboard can be seen in a shopping plaza, with cars driving by on the road and a person is crossing the street in front of the billboard.
A government billboard about teacher salaries can be seen in Saskatoon. ( Albert Couillard/CBC News)

NDP education critic Matt Love is a formerteacher, has twodegrees and saidhe "never made"$92,000.

"How disappointing this is to see a government use taxpayer dollars to send a message that communicates that they don't care about all the hard work that teachers put in to take care of our children and youth in our school system," Love said.

Charles Smith,a professor of political studies at Saint Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan, saidthe last round of bargaining was also very contentious.

"We know the teachers very much wanted to put classroom size on the agenda and the government refused to budgeon that front. There was almost a strike," Smith said.

He said thisround of talks happening with the backdrop of upcoming byelections is a recipe for contentious labour relations.

"It's taken the bargaining to the public and I think the government feels it's vulnerable on the education file."

A billboard can be seen saying 'a fair deal for teachers, 7 per cent salary increase over three years'
A government billboard that says a seven per cent salary increase over three years for teachers is a fair deal is causing tensions to rise in negotiations between the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and the provincial government. ( Albert Couillard/CBC News)

Smith said the teachers are right to call out the government's tactics and fight for a good deal.

"We know that education funding over the past decade has very much been flat or declined. We know that teachers are entering into this very important round of bargaining. There's a very real possibility there could be job action," he said.

The Ministry of Education sent CBC a statement in response to an interview request and did not answer questions related to the billboards. It said the government's proposed sevenper cent increase in wages over three years is a fair deal.