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However, unions challenged the delay in court, arguing the bill broke negotiated contracts. But the court of appeal ruled in the government’s favour. The arbitration pause was brought to an end Oct. 31.

ATA president Jason Schilling said Friday going into the arbitration hearing they were hoping for a three per cent increase for each year of the contract.

“I am extremely frustrated and angry at this decision. I think the association had a really strong argument in the arbitration process and I was confident that we would see a reasonable increase to our salaries,” Schilling said.

Since 2012, Alberta teachers have received only one new wage increase to their general salaries.

“Teachers have done their part in the past when they’ve been asked to assist with Alberta’s economy,” Schilling said.

“Even when Alberta was not in a recession, and we’re not in a recession right now, we were taking zeros and so teachers have done their part and we’re looking for some correction to that.”

The arbitration hearings with the UNA — which represents more than 30,000 registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and other health-care workers — were held on Dec. 4 and 5 in Edmonton.

In his judgement, arbitrator David Jones — who was also the arbitrator in the ATA’s hearing — wrote, “no change to wage rates is justified in the third year of the current collective agreement, particularly given the prevailing general economic conditions in the province, as well as the current comparative continuity and stability of nurses’ employment and the absence of any relevant other public sector settlements that would indicate either an increase or a decrease to salaries.”