COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH TEACHERS

The Government of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan School Boards Association and the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) have reached a tentative provincial collective bargaining agreement. The Government/Trustee Bargaining Committee and the Teachers' Bargaining Committee have been in negotiations since March 2007. The current agreement expires today.

"The Government is pleased a tentative collective agreement was reached before the current agreement expired," Learning Minister Deb Higgins said. "I congratulate the members of the Government/Trustee and Teacher Bargaining Committees on their successful negotiations."

The agreement requires ratification by over 12,000 members of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation. This process is expected to take place over the next several weeks. Details of the agreement will be released upon ratification.

"Now that a tentative agreement has been reached, the Federation's first priority is to provide detailed information on the contents to Saskatchewan teachers through our established internal communications process," STF General Secretary Lyle Vinish said. "Until that process is complete and a ratification vote has been held, the Federation will not comment publicly on the agreement."

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Learning
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609

Laura Beard
Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-373-1660