The teacher who came to strike openly told how much she earns: are there any other questions?

One Vilnius teacher told LNK news what motivates her to do such a job.

“What personally motivates me is when a student says “thank you” when leaving class. This is the reason that you are meaningful and needed”, Lithuanian language and ethics teacher Jurgita Juknevičienė told LNK news.

Teachers would like to hear “thank you” not only from students, but also from the state.

The leader of the striking teachers’ trade union Andrius Navickas Greeted by applause in Vilnius, he covered more than 150 kilometers.

“The feeling that there are many teachers who go together, who dared,” said A. Navickas, is exciting.

English teacher Danguolė Naujokienė emphasized that pedagogues do not want to take money from doctors or policemen.

“That money must be enough for everyone. After all, we are creating a welfare state, aren’t we”, said D. Naujokienė.

A few came to Vilnius on foot, but most came by bus, but even the latter went to Vilnius on Thursday from early morning.

“When I said that I would go on strike, everyone wished me luck and supported me,” physics teacher Jonas Jaunius told LNK.

Schoolgirl Rugilė said that teachers are really supported and their work is valued.

“We understand that it is difficult for them and that the conditions need to be improved. We see it ourselves,” said the schoolgirl.

Regardless of the transport they used to arrive in Vilnius, the teachers unanimously completed the last section of the march – they traveled to the Government on foot.

“Statistical abracadabra calculation with severe overwork. The number of students in classes with inclusive education is a fiasco”, said Snieguolė Velickienė, an English teacher of primary education.

Ethics teacher Meilė Platukienė also openly shared the amount of salary she just received.

“It’s 1135 euros, it’s 1.4 full-time. Are there any other questions,” she said.

And at the Government on Thursday, some teachers were on duty since the morning, others slept in a tent by the windows of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s office.

“If we don’t do anything, I believe our system will collapse”, thought Loreta Likatavičienė, a teacher of Lithuanian language and literature.

One woman from Vilnius expressed her indignation to LNK news – she urged teachers to strike during their holidays if they wish the children well.

Minister of Education, Science and Sports Gintautas Jakštas mentioned when and how teachers’ wages will change.

“The salary as planned will not change – 21 percent. The first increase is already 10 percent from January, and the rest from the first of September. This will not change, regardless of whether there is a strike or not,” said the minister.

Prime Minister Ingrid Šimonytė also said that there is no “laid money that can just be taken”.

“Then you can either reduce other expenses, or have to raise taxes, give up some benefits, or increase the debt. But we have no possibility to increase the debt in the coming years”, said the Head of the Government.

The head of the striking trade union, A. Navickas, said that negotiations with the ministry are very difficult.

“Maybe we have a lot of hope. But teachers have a lot of determination. We will wait for Monday’s results,” he said.

The trade union said it hoped that the Government would pay for the strike, and if not, the trade union would compensate. But will there be anything from it?

“Our trade union collects a membership fee. If that money is not enough right away, we will schedule the payments into the future. Here, everything will depend on how long the strike will be and what its costs will be,” A. Navickas told LNK news on Thursday.

See the full LNK news report here: