“We can’t do it anymore!”, the Christian Trade Union Group (FCG) complains in the demo call about overload, lack of staff, bureaucracy and increasing demands. The special education teachers will hold a department meeting on October 21st.
The schools are at the tipping point and operations are only possible to a limited extent at many locations, warned Vienna’s top teacher representative Thomas Krebs (FCG) in the run-up to the rally. The schools are constantly understaffed and teachers are therefore constantly at their limits.
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In addition, there is a shortage of support staff; teachers sometimes fill in for leisure groups or for missing school custodians. At the same time, in a recent survey, half of Vienna’s compulsory school teachers reported that at least half of their class did not speak enough German to be able to follow lessons. He receives daily reports of disrespect and attacks by students, and there are no options for sanctions. The Education Directorate is notoriously understaffed, and technical problems with the application tool have exacerbated the shortage of teachers.
Krebs demanded that the decision-makers provide lasting relief, fair working conditions and a school social worker and psychologist at each location so that the teaching staff can continue to do their work at a high level. In kindergartens, smaller groups and more language support are necessary; in teacher training, students need to be better prepared for practice.
Since the spring, there have been repeated warnings that teachers are at their limit, says Krebs. The rally in front of the Education Directorate, which was deliberately scheduled outside of class time, was intended as a “loud sign of solidarity.” Under the motto “Your voice for a strong voice,” the invitation also seeks support for the FCG in the staff representative elections at the end of November. If the protest has no effect, according to Krebs, further measures are also conceivable that would definitely affect teaching.
The event is also supported by the independent teachers’ unions of the ÖLI-UG at Vienna’s compulsory schools. In addition to the rally on Wipplingerstrasse, they have registered two more in front of the Ministry of Education and – as a sign against the “reporting office” against “politicizing teachers” called for by the FPÖ – on Ballhausplatz. They demand sufficient resources and support from multi-professional teams, transparent contracts and the highest priority for education policy in government negotiations.
Because the work situation and stress in the area of special education is already too high, the cross-party departmental committee for specialist special education, chaired by the ÖLI-UG, has also called a departmental meeting for the approximately 1,500 employees next Monday (October 21st) at 1 p.m work in schools for children with physical, sensory, severe or multiple disabilities. At the schools in question there will only be a journal service or classes will be cancelled.
