Vucevic’s “answer” to the protest of educators: There could be 1,001 strikes
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, said on the occasion of the teachers’ strike that classes were completely suspended in 37 percent of schools in the country.
“I don’t think they should have scheduled a strike between two rounds of talks, it’s not in the spirit of socio-economic dialogue, but it’s their legal right and I can’t argue with them.” There is no hidden money, there can be 1,001 protests, strikes and pressure. It’s not a question of whether someone wants it or not, but whether it’s realistic,” said the Prime Minister.
He called on the trade unions of educational workers to “urgently continue discussions on the improvement of their financial situation and the demand that their safety in schools be ensured by law”.
“I think that the Government has come out with a concrete proposal, in relation to the Protocol from November 2023, we have fulfilled four fifths of the requirements, and it is very close that with the increase we have proposed, the key requirement concerning their expectation for the starting salary in education will be fulfilled”, Vucevic said.
According to him, the Government presented to the trade unions of educators that they will receive the largest salary increase in the public sector in the coming year.
“It will be 50 percent more than the increase for all other employees in the public sector, including the army, police, and healthcare. “They would come close to the fact that the starting salary in education is equal to the average salary, that is, they would be at 94-95 percent of the average salary,” he said.
He assessed that education should receive systemic support in the next three years.
“Let’s talk about how to restore the reputation of the teaching profession, to restore dignity to their profession. And that it should be the focus of the union’s work, not just the salary issue,” said Vučević.
He stated that with the changes to the Criminal Code, “educators and health workers will be treated separately”.
Educators protested with the request to improve their material situation and to ensure their safety in schools by law.
Source: Beta
Photo: Pixabay, BIZLife
Source: bizlife.rs
