Jakštas does not think that it will be possible to avoid the teachers’ strike
“We understand that raising teachers’ salaries by 56 percent is not financially feasible. If there is no compromise, it will apparently be difficult to avoid (a strike – ELTA)”, G. Jakštas commented to journalists at the Government on Wednesday.
“We have made an unprecedented offer, there has never been in history such an increase of funds for raising wages – the financial possibilities have been exhausted, there is no longer a possibility to offer larger funds,” the minister emphasized.
However, G. Jakštas does not promise to withdraw from the negotiations even with one trade union of teachers, which raised demands for improving the working conditions of teachers.
“With 4 out of 5 trade unions, negotiations continue in the usual way, they are constructive. 1 out of 5 chose a different way of discussion, the chosen method of strike, we respect that choice and we will discuss in the formats chosen by them”, said the Minister of Education.
G. Jakštas added that currently, non-financial offers are being made to trade unions, such as improving the quality of training for teachers.
The Ministry advises school leaders on ensuring the educational process during the strike
Mr. Jakštas said he did not know how many teachers planned to participate in the strike.
“School heads call that they are in the dark about how to ensure safety and the educational process in schools. Today we are preparing a letter for school leaders on how to ensure safety and how to react in one or another case. At the moment, the most important thing is that if the teachers go on strike, the students will not suffer as a result,” the minister emphasized.
On September 15, the Lithuanian Education Workers’ Trade Union (LŠDPS) failed to reach an agreement on a faster increase in teachers’ salaries. already participated in the warning strike, and from September 29. announce that they are planning a real strike.
The trade union of education workers led by Andriaus Navickos demanded a 20 percent increase in teachers’ salaries this year.
He also requested that from 2024 January 1 salaries would increase by another 30 percent. In this case, the total wage growth would reach 56 percent.
LŠDPS has also expressed the need to reduce the number of students in the newly formed classes, and proposes to provide for a better procedure for working with students with special educational needs.
At the end of August, the Lithuanian Education and Science Professional Union (LŠMPS) also announced that they were considering going on strike. Its chairman Egidijus Milesin informed that they will join the strike if it is not possible to reach an agreement on the raised demands.