“Seeing that most of the problems are not solved, but hidden under interpretations of numbers and facts, realizing that the situation in the education sector is becoming more and more complicated, and the Ministry of Education and Culture and its subordinate institutions do not show proper leadership, LŠDPS decided to take a very difficult step, but the expectations of the majority of teachers the corresponding step: to declare a real strike,” said the LŠDPS in a statement published on Monday.
According to the announcement, information about specific employees of educational institutions participating in the strike will be provided to the respective educational institution where the strike will take place.
A. Navickas told BNS that the registration of teachers will begin after the announcement of the strike on Monday, and the number of teachers joining the strike will be known only as the scheduled date approaches.
On Friday, the teachers organized a warning strike, and on Tuesday, negotiations with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports will continue.
LŠDPS demands a 20% increase in salaries from September, another 30% from January next year, a reduction in the number of students in classes, and more.
A. Navickas said that the pedagogues will evaluate the possibilities of an agreement with ŠMSM after seeing the proposals, but he was skeptical, saying that the ministry is manipulating the numbers.
“Tomorrow, the minister plans to present proposals, when we see the proposals, then we will evaluate them. There is no such hope to expect much, they provide inaccurate numbers, it is obvious that they do not want to reach a real agreement, they just want to show the agreement, to present it to the public, and there is no chance of reaching an agreement,” said A. Navickas.
The head of LŠDPS Andrius Navickas claimed on Friday that the union is ready to talk until the scheduled date of the strike and, if the agreements are successful, it is determined to cancel the strike “even in the morning of the same day”.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė says that teachers’ salaries are up to 130 percent. average wages will be raised next year, as committed in the party agreement, it is promised to be done in two stages – from January and from September, and some of the demands of the trade union, according to her, are unfulfillable.
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId: ‘117218911630016’,
version: ‘v2.10’,
status: true,
cookie: false,
xfbml: true
});
};
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {
return;
}
js = d.createElement(s);
js.id = id;
js.src = “https://connect.facebook.net/lt_LT/sdk.js”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
#September #teachers #trade #union #announced #start #real #strike
**Interview with Andrius Navickas, Representative of the Lithuanian Teachers’ Union (LŠDPS)**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Andrius. The recent teachers’ strike has certainly captured the attention of many. Can you explain what led to this significant decision?
**Andrius Navickas:** Thank you for having me. The decision to strike was not taken lightly. We have reached a point where many issues in the education sector remain unresolved. Teachers have expressed their frustrations regarding low salaries and increasing workloads, while the Ministry of Education and Culture has not provided the leadership needed to address these challenges effectively.
**Interviewer:** What specific demands are the teachers making in this strike?
**Andrius Navickas:** Our main demands include a 20% salary increase starting this September and an additional 30% from January of next year. We are also calling for a reduction in class sizes to ensure more individualized attention for students, among other important demands.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that a warning strike was organized. How did that go, and what are the next steps?
**Andrius Navickas:** The warning strike was a show of solidarity among teachers and an indication of our seriousness regarding these issues. Negotiations with the Ministry are ongoing as we seek to reach a fair agreement. We will start registering teachers for the full strike as we get closer to the scheduled date.
**Interviewer:** How is the response from the teachers as negotiations continue?
**Andrius Navickas:** The response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Teachers are frustrated but also hopeful that their voices will be heard. They are closely watching the negotiations and are prepared to take a stand if necessary.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what do you hope to achieve through this strike?
**Andrius Navickas:** Our goal is to ensure that teachers are compensated fairly for their work and that our education system provides a supportive environment for both educators and students. We believe that addressing these issues is crucial for the future of education in Lithuania.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Andrius, for your insights and for advocating for the teachers’ cause. We wish you the best in the negotiations ahead.
**Andrius Navickas:** Thank you. It’s vital that we keep these conversations going for the benefit of our students and teachers.
