News broke Monday of the results of the vote on job sanctions by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. With 97 percent of the membership casting a ballot, 90.2 percent said they were in favour of taking job action of some sort.

The results didn’t necessarily surprise members of the Opposition NDP. Carla Beck is the education critic.

“I think it sends a very clear signal; that the minister needs to take this very seriously, to listen to the concerns of teachers, and to work very hard to avert further job action by teachers,” said Beck.

Teachers have voiced concerns over the per-person funding in the classroom, as well as class size and complexion, among other issues. Beck said the message from teachers over the course of the contract negotiations, whether in the public forum or not, hasn’t strayed from those concerns.

“I think that they have run out of options with regards to getting that message out and having it received in such a way that the minister actually listens to them,” Beck added.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation was scheduled to meet Education Minister Gord Wyant Tuesday to discuss the recent conciliation report, prepared from meetings between the two parties in January.