Latvian Association of Education and Science Workers (LIZDA) has sent a letter to the government, the Saeima and other state institutions. In it, the trade union accuses state officials of non-compliance with regulations.
The head of LIZDA – Inga Vanaga – notes that the trade union faces actions from state officials that is against principles outlined in the State Administration Structure Law, including principles of good management and rule of law.
The trade union reports having noticed non-compliance with multiple existing legislative acts from the side of state officials, which not only affects people employed in the education and science sector but also downgrades society’s trust in the government.
«To reach a consensus, understanding and possible solutions in regards to application and execution of legislative acts», LIZDA will organise a discussion on the 20th of March.
Previously LIZDA gave the government time until the 15th of March, so that the Ministry of Education and Science complies with demands presented in the last strike. Otherwise teachers will organise a nation-wide strike on the 24th of April.
According to LIZDA, having received no clear commitment from the government on fulfilling previously given promises and diverting state budget funding towards increase of teachers’ wages and balancing overall workloads, the Council of LIZDA decided to issue the government an ultimatum.
If the government does not comply, an all-Latvian teachers’ strike will commence with a protest procession on the 24th of April.
Vanaga says the biggest problem at the moment is that the ministry offers wage growth and workload balancing schedule but does not mention any specific amounts or financial sources. She stressed the trade union cannot agree with the ministry about the funding of EUR 61 million, because this amount is intended to pay for the duties not covered by workload balancing plans. This money has nothing to do with the schedule the government was supposed to approve yesterday.
The Ministry of Education and Science remind that the state budget for 2023 includes historically the biggest increase of wages for teachers. The previously allocated EUR 45.5 million were included in the temporary budget plans as well. The government also decided on the allocation of another EUR 17 million, which is essentially guarantees for the increase of the number of students and adoption of a new financing model.
Additionally, the government decided to allocate another EUR 61 million to implement the agreement previously reached with teachers. This means the total resource available to increase teachers’ wages is EUR 124.3 million in 2023. No other sector of Latvia’s economy has ever received an increase of this size.
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