The Education and Science Trade Union Federation has announced its intention to launch protests, including a strike, if the demand for teachers’ salary increases from September 1 is not met.
The first protest action is scheduled for August 19, the day of the parliamentary vote on the relevant bill. On that day, protesting teachers plan to picket the government building.
September 1, the start of the school year, will be marked by mass teacher protests across the country. For October 1, a state of emergency in education is being planned, and on October 5, teachers will boycott official events marking their professional holiday.
Let us recall that in July, plans were announced for a significant salary increase for public sector employees. In particular, the base rate for calculating teacher salaries was to be raised from 2,900 to 4,200 lei, with the overall salary increase amounting to 10–15%.
However, the celebration was short-lived. The tax reform to which the salary increase project was tied fell through, and the authorities reneged on their promises. Instead of raising salaries, they offered a one-off compensatory payment of 3,000–4,000 lei.
Teachers were not satisfied with such a handout and are demanding full implementation of the commitments previously made.
“This situation constitutes a serious breach of the government’s obligations and is an act of disrespect toward the teaching community,” the trade union federation’s statement reads.
