STF, Government of Saskatchewan begin binding arbitration [Video]

The binding arbitration process between Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) and the provincial government began Monday after more than a year and a half of contract negotiations and job action.

In June, both STF and the province formally announced that both sides will go ahead with binding arbitration after deliberations failed.

Proceedings are currently underway in Saskatoon and are scheduled to run until Dec. 20.

Talks first began in May of 2023 and deliberations have been tense.

Negotiations surrounding compensation, class size and complexity broke down, and since then varying levels of job action was taken including strikes back in January.

While tentative agreements were reached throughout the year, STF membership voted each one down.

University of Regina labour expert, Andrew Stevens, says this process can be a technical affair.

“This could unfold over a period of weeks or months and so I think the tradeoff that the teachers made for withdrawing their …