Four trade unions that represent educational workers have announced a joint street protest for Tuesday, September 26, and if their demands are not met, they will go on strike on October 9th, with classes shortened to 30 minutes.
Valentina Ilić, president of the Education Union, says that after the protest, the participants will submit their demands to the authorities.
“We request that the starting salary of teachers in elementary and high schools be equal to the average salary in the Republic of Serbia, that the volume of school paperwork be reduced and that the agreement that the unions reached with the Education Ministry be respected. If no one invites us to have a talk and these demands are not fulfilled, we will go on strike on October 9th”, Ilić adds.
Yesterday’s negotiations with the members of the Working Group for Elementary and High School Education, which was formed by the Government, ended without an agreement. However, as Srđan Slović, president of the Nezavisnost trade union, confirms, trade unions will meet with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić today, September 25th.
“Our requirements are very detailed, especially regarding the financial demands. Before the salary increase by 5.5 percent from September 1, the average salary in the country was about 10,000 dinars higher than a teacher’s starting salary”, Slović adds.
(Danas, 25.09.2023)
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