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Public sector workers in Medicine Hat march on the sidewalk outside of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in October 2019. Workers were rallying against Bill 9 and cuts announced in the provincial budget. - Photo by Ross Lavigne
Arbitration board

No wage increases for teachers and nurses, arbitration board rules

Jan 11, 2020 | 11:30 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government says an arbitration board has ruled there will be no wage increases for teachers and registered nurses in their current contracts.

The decision affects members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the United Nurses of Alberta.

Finance Minister Travis Toews says the ruling reflects the current economic realities in the province and added there is no new money for public sector raises in the government’s fiscal plan.

The nurses had asked for a three per cent increase after no receiving raises in the first and second years of their three-year contract.

Jason Schilling, president of the ATA, says the ruling means teachers haven’t had a raise in seven of the last eight years.

He says teachers are angry and they will keep the ruling in mind during upcoming contract talks that begin in March.