The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) issued a press release on Friday hinting at increasing job sanctions to start after the February break.

President of the STF, Samantha Becotte, said "It is alarming that our government is disregarding this overwhelming, unified message from the public. It suggests that they don’t really care about Saskatchewan’s kids or public education, and shows a level of disdain for Saskatchewan’s citizens."

Becotte added that the Teachers' Bargaining Committee was invited back to the bargaining table, but they declined as the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee has not been given a new mandate.

The Ministry of Education was asked to comment on the situation, and released the following statement:

Our negotiators are at the bargaining table today, ready to bargain.

The government has moved on a number of items the STF asked for, including the salary mandate, and they have refused to move off their initial proposals, including a 23.4% salary increase.

Outside of bargaining, the government has proposed an agreement with the STF to annualize the $53.1 million in additional funding for class size and complexity.

Teachers and students should be in the classroom, and the teachers’ union should be at the bargaining table.