Members of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) have been given a new two-year contract awarded by an arbitration board.

The 13,500 members apart of the STF will not get a raise in the first year of the agreement but will have a one percent increase in the second year.

In a news release from the STF, president Patrick Maze said: “While the salary package will be disappointing to teachers, it has to be viewed in the context of a persistent government demand for a 3.67 percent wage rollback."

A proposal that would have addressed issues around class size and composition was also declined.

Despite the only one percent increase and the declined proposal, the arbitration did block the government's proposal to significantly cut teacher sick leave, and all teacher fees paid to a provincial disciplinary body recently established by the provincial government will continue to be paid by the government.

The agreement will last until the end of August 31st, 2019.