The Education, Science and Culture Workers’ Union is resuming its negotiations on higher pay with the Ministry of Education and Science, after it suspended on April 28 the nationwide teachers’ strike when education authorities initiated a mediation proceeding to settle the teachers pay dispute pursuant to the Law on Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, news agency MIA informs.
On May 8, union members and government officials decided to continue the negotiations for another ten days with the help of a conciliator from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Union members at the time said there was some progress in the talks. The nationwide teachers’ strike over pay started on April 11.
Elementary and high school teachers were demanding 18.4-percent raises in line with the recent 18.4-percent increase of the national minimum wage from 15,200 denars [EUR 246] to 18,000 denars [EUR 291].
According to figures released by the government, teachers currently earn between 24,786 denars [EUR 402] and 25,642 denars [EUR 416] per month.
Negotiating with union members to stop the strike, the government initially offered them 10-percent raises, which were rejected.
They also rejected the government’s subsequent offer of 12-percent raises.
