Resolutions
At any meeting of Council, you will spend much of your time debating and voting on resolutions. Almost all matters for decision by the Council are framed and brought forward for your consideration as a resolution or special resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED that the STF….” By voting in favour of a resolution, you are directing the Federation to take an action, express a position and/or adopt a policy or bylaw.
Over time Council has developed an extensive and detailed resolutions process to ensure that its decisions are fair, informed and democratic. This process is discussed in detail under the sections on Council Meetings and Resolutions. At this point it will suffice to emphasize that resolutions are a core responsibility of Council, demanding time and effort from each councillor in understanding the issues raised in each resolution, ensuring that all available information is brought to bear on the resolution, exploring the implications of the resolution for teachers, students, education and the STF and finally deciding each resolution in accordance with the beliefs, values and aspirations of the teaching profession as a whole.
Any STF member or group of members may submit a resolution for decision by Council. The STF Executive also brings forward resolutions that recommend budgets, policies, bylaws, benefit plan changes and other matters. The responsibility of Council for resolutions is a vital part of the governance structure of the STF, ideally ensuring that:
- the Federation is open and responsive to its members;
- decision-making is transparent;
- decisions are made on the basis of adequate research and consultation;
- diverse perspectives are heard and debated when decisions are made;
- the legislated responsibility of the Executive to make recommendations and provide leadership at Council is honoured; and
- the Executive is accountable for its disposition of Council resolutions.
You should be aware that Council is accountable for its decisions on resolutions not only to the membership of the STF, but also to the public. All resolutions adopted, defeated, tabled or referred at Council are published in the Saskatchewan Bulletin and posted on the STF website. The media and guests from the educational organizations in Saskatchewan are invited to attend all plenary and small sessions at which resolutions are debated and decided, with the exception of those related to provincial collective bargaining. For strategic reasons, those sessions are closed to the public. In general, however, the proceedings of Council are open and transparent to affirm the fact that the STF is a unitary organization serving both teachers and the public.