V. Čmilytė-Nielsen does not see opportunities to increase teachers’ salaries faster

“Almost 400 million euros are allocated to the increase specifically in the field of education and the implementation of the national agreement, there is not much room for that anymore. Apparently, representatives of other sectors could also raise questions as to why one is so singled out,” V. Čmilytė-Nielsen told reporters on Monday in the Seimas, as the Government was preparing to present next year’s budget draft in the Seimas.

The project was discussed by the council of the ruling coalition on Monday.

ŠMSM announced on Monday that it is still unable to find an agreement with the striking A. Navickas Lithuanian Education Workers Trade Union (LŠDPS) regarding these demands, after the head of the trade union met with the Minister of Education Gintautas Jakštas for another round of negotiations.

The government proposes to raise salaries for teachers next year in two stages: from January – by 10%, and by a similar proportion from September – so that the average teacher’s salary reaches 130%. average national wage. In the next year’s budget, over 387 million will be additionally allocated for the implementation of the education agreement. euros.

LŠDPS is not satisfied with this, as a result several thousand Lithuanian teachers have been on strike for more than a week, which is planned to last a month, and continue to try to negotiate with the ministry.

According to A. Navickos, the minimum limit that the striking teachers could drop is 15 percent. salary increase from January and 15 percent. since September. If no consensus is found with the ministry, the trade union promises to conduct negotiations with Seimas factions.

At that time, last Thursday, four trade unions of education workers agreed with ŠMSM to prepare a plan by May of next year, how the salary of teachers will be increased after 2024, and they also supported the Government’s proposal for a salary increase next year.

During the negotiations with these trade unions, it was agreed to reduce classes in schools from next September. Municipalities could reduce the maximum class size from 30 to 26 students in basic education, from 24 to 22 students in primary education. It was also agreed to improve the methodology for calculating teacher positions.

“This is primarily a question of the Government, they maintain that dialogue with the trade unions, as you know, four out of five basically withdraw or at least do not join the protests, so apparently the dialogue will continue,” said the head of the parliament on Monday.