With teachers in Saskatchewan a day away from beginning job action that would see their involvement in extracurricular activities end, the provincial government sent a new offer for a four-year deal to the teachers.

It includes a one-time payment of $1,500 in the first year, and a two-per-cent salary increase in each of the next three years. According to the province, that'll mean teachers in Saskatchewan are making 105 per cent of the western Canadian average.

The press release stated that the government has committed funds to be applied to composition challenges identified by teachers in the province. It also said a Class Size and Composition Committee was formed last fall and has met "several times to develop a framework for class size and composition," and that the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation declined to participate in those meetings.

"I encourage teachers to participate in this important committee as they work daily with students and understand the composition issue very clearly,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “I urge the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation to select teacher representatives to join this committee, which I am prepared to reformat for this important discussion.”

The province says the offer "balances the government's appreciation and respect of teachers with the responsible fiscal management that taxpayers expect and other unions have accepted."

The release also says "During the last collective bargaining process, the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation requested arbitration. During the most recent bargaining talks, the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation requested conciliation. Neither the arbitrator nor the conciliator indicated that class size and composition should be included within the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement.

"There is opportunity for the parties to address these issues at the local level which is more appropriate given the vast differences in the needs of individual schools."