TEACHERS AND GOVERNMENT NEED TO FIND COMMON GROUND

Weighing in on the dispute between the Saskatchewan Government and the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation is a dicey subject for me since my wife is a teacher.

Before I say anything, it's important to note that my wife and I don't discuss negotiations at all.  It would likely lead to an argument anyway!  I have teased her that she's not even the most popular person in her house right now, so how can the teachers expect to gain overall public support from people that don't know them!

Here's my take:  First of all, the STF has to drop this notion of comparing their wages to that of Alberta.  Frankly, if you like Alberta so much then just pack your bags and go.  Let me know how you make out finding work there as a teacher.

Secondly, the provincial government needs to take its head out of the sand and pay these people.  A three year increase in wages of 16.3% is not unreasonable at all.  Think about your expenses and how much they've increased over the last ten years.  Gas, housing, utility bills, groceries, and every day expenses have all shot through the roof in Saskatchewan during the last ten years or so.  In fact, if someone did the appropriate math on the rate of inflation, the percentage hike in overall expenses, and also the overall average increase in wages you would find that the balance is tilted heavily toward expenses and inflation.  Furthermore, governments have money.  Every time gas increases at the pump, more green goes into government coffers.

It used to be that teachers made an above average salary when comparing wages to everyone in the work force.  That's no longer the case.  Why would I want to be a teacher in today's world?  The pay, while not bad, is certainly not something that would lure me.  Sure, there are plenty of holidays and summers off, but the reality for me is that seeing what teachers put up with over the course of a standard work week, I'd rather do something else.

To make a long story short, I think the STF could do a better job of selling their position and I think the Province could do a better job of respecting this people and giving them their well deserved salary increases.