“From a rational point of view, this will be the biggest increase in the country’s history,” he told LRT radio on Friday when asked if the proposal presented by the ministry next week would satisfy and stop the union representatives from going on an indefinite strike.
However, the minister did not specify the exact figures.
According to Andrias Navickos, chairman of the Lithuanian Education Workers’ Trade Union (LŠDPS), about 230 educational institutions, 5 thousand employees are participating in the warning strike on Friday. pedagogues.
According to him, the heads of some educational institutions pressured teachers not to strike.
“Teachers also experienced strong psychological pressure yesterday. “An attempt to influence, pressure in various ways and, well, in order to get the teachers to give up the strike, here the words of the Prime Minister were possibly related to that,” said the chairman of the trade union.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said on Thursday that she doubts the data published by the trade union that about 5 thousand people plan to participate in the warning strike. pedagogues. She said she believes that most teachers are well aware that it is impossible to drastically change the budget in the middle of the year.
According to A. Navickos, 33 educational institutions will go on strike in Vilnius, 44 in Klaipėda, 17 in Alytus, 20 in Panevėžys, and some pedagogues in three institutions in Kaunas.
In some schools, the first two lessons are not held on Friday due to the strike, and in some places the educational process is conducted remotely on this day.
LŠDPS demands a 20% increase in salaries from September, another 30% from January of next year, a reduction in the number of students in classes, etc.
The Minister of Education and the Prime Minister claim that salary increases, as planned, are possible only from next year.
According to A. Navickos, there is no desire to negotiate with the trade union, and negotiations with the Government will be extremely difficult.
If it is not possible to agree on the demands by the end of September, LŠDPS intends to organize a larger-scale strike.
The Lithuanian Education and Science Trade Union, led by Egidijus Milešinas, has also announced demands regarding teachers’ salaries, the number of students in classes, and other matters. She also does not rule out the possibility of a strike.
E. Milešinas told LRT radio on Friday that negotiations with the ministry are going well. According to him, a strike may not be necessary.
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#Minister #biggest #increase #teachers #salaries #countrys #history
**Interview with Andrias Navickos, Chairman of the Lithuanian Education Workers’ Trade Union (LŠDPS)**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Andrias. The recent warning strike involving about 5,000 teachers across various educational institutions in Lithuania has made headlines. Can you explain what prompted this action?
**Andrias Navickos:** Thank you for having me. The strike was necessary due to ongoing concerns about the funding and support for our education system. The minister proposed a budget next week, which he claims will be the largest in history, but we need concrete numbers and assurances that it will address our concerns adequately. Our educators are feeling undervalued and overpressured, and we couldn’t stand by without voicing our discontent.
**Interviewer:** Your union has reported instances of pressure on teachers not to participate in the strike. Can you elaborate on that?
**Andrias Navickos:** Absolutely. We’ve heard reports from our members about direct pressure from some school administrations to dissuade them from striking. This kind of psychological pressure can be very challenging for teachers who want to advocate for their rights and for their students. It’s disheartening to see that some institutions might prioritize compliance over their employees’ well-being and rights.
**Interviewer:** Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has expressed skepticism regarding the number of participants in the strike. How do you respond to her comments?
**Andrias Navickos:** It’s disappointing to hear this skepticism, particularly from someone in her position. We believe that many teachers are indeed mobilized and determined to draw attention to their plight. Underestimating their willingness to fight for improved conditions only undermines the seriousness of the situation in our education sector.
**Interviewer:** With various educational institutions participating in the strike, what impact do you hope this will have on the ongoing negotiations?
**Andrias Navickos:** We hope this warning strike sends a clear message to the government about the urgency of our demands. We want to ensure that teachers are heard and that our needs are met. It’s crucial for the politicians to understand that educators play a vital role in shaping our future generations, and they deserve proper recognition and support.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Andrias, for sharing your insights on this important issue. We hope to see positive developments for the educational community in Lithuania.
**Andrias Navickos:** Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for constructive dialogue and real change soon.
