Teachers won't have to give up raise

Alberta teachers will be getting a raise after all.

A deal that would have seen teachers give up a 4.3% wage hike in return for spending less time in the classrooms won't be going through, and not because the teachers didn't want it.

In a surprise meeting Friday morning, the Education Minister told the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Alberta School Boards discussions would not be moving ahead.

The minister did not say exactly why, but implied the government's political instability may be a factor.

The government would have saved $180 million in salaries for the year.