Almost 94 per cent of teachers in Prairie South School Division (PSSD) voted in favour of a new three-year collective agreement that includes new benefits covering areas such as wellness and retirement.
The local independent negotiation committee (LINC) comprises the Prairie South Teachers’ Association (PSTA) and school division negotiators. Both groups met in March to negotiate a new agreement since the current one finishes Aug. 1. A month later, the teachers’ association held information sessions for its members about the tentative agreement and conducted a ratification vote; 93.6 per cent of teachers approved.
The new agreement goes into effect Aug. 1 and expires July 31, 2024.
LINC agreements typically include local benefits for teachers in addition to benefits they receive through provincial collective agreements, a board of education report said. LINC funding is based on historical agreements and varies widely among school divisions. This deal is “financially neutral” compared to previous agreements.
“Mandates for collective bargaining are set by the board of education. LINC negotiations are interest-based in nature, so the mandate consists of the interests of the school division,” the report continued. Four interests were pursued during negotiations, including equity for teachers, enhanced outcomes for students, fiscal restraint, and #learningtogether.
The new LINC agreement was presented to board members during their recent May meeting. Trustees voted unanimously to ratify the agreement and direct the negotiating team to sign on behalf of the board.
Agreement highlights
There are several notable changes with this new agreement, said Amy Johnson, superintendent of human resources.
For example, there is now more money for health and wellness. Before, there was a $10,000 fund for counselling and $10,000 for wellness initiatives; those two have now been combined. The association can use money from that new fund for counselling or other health activities.
Changes have been made to allow for mid-year retirements, Johnson continued. By May 1 of the current school year, teachers must indicate in writing their intent to retire at either Dec. 31 or the end of semester 1 of the following school year. Division office staff will then consult with the school principal to determine what effect the mid-year retirement will have on school programming.
If it’s determined that the other mid-year retirement date is better for uninterrupted school programming, the division will speak with the teacher about finding a solution for both parties.
A third notable change is that the division will now cover teachers’ tuition costs for those who pursue continuous learning from an accredited post-secondary institution. Teachers must apply before the course starts by March 1, June 1, or Oct. 1.
Board discussion
“It is very good and very reflective of our excellent relationship with the PSTA,” said trustee Mary Jukes. “It’s good to know that they and our staff work well together.”
It was a pleasure to work with the PTSA on this agreement, said board chairman Robert Bachmann. The association’s LINC committee members asked several good questions of the board while the division presented its perspective. Both parties arrived at positive conclusions for teachers while ensuring the agreement was viable and feasible for PSSD.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, June 1.
