Saskatchewan teachers and their year-long battle for a contract with the province is over, and the Arbitration Board deciding that contract ruled that class complexity must be part of their collective agreement.

This decision follows a decade of advocacy to improve learning conditions for students and support teachers in increasingly challenging classrooms.

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte praised the ruling, calling it a crucial step toward addressing classroom issues. Teachers will receive a 9 per cent salary increase over three years, including 4 per cent retroactive to September 2023, 3 per cent in 2024, and 2 per cent in 2025.

A $20 million annual class complexity fund will be added to existing provincial education funding. The Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee must now agree on how to implement the class complexity provisions. If they fail to reach an agreement, the issue will return to the Arbitration Board.

Before this ruling, Saskatchewan and Alberta were the only provinces without contract provisions for class size, class composition, or violence-free work environments. This decision aligns Saskatchewan with most other Canadian provinces, addressing long-standing teacher concerns.

Becotte commended the dedication of Saskatchewan teachers and families, emphasizing that their efforts led to this important change. The ruling is expected to have a lasting impact on public education, teacher working conditions, and student learning outcomes across the province.