The compromise proposed by the ruling coalition in Latvia offers nothing to 20 000 teachers, said chairperson of Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Workers (LIZDA) Inga Vanaga in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
Looking at the coalition’s accomplishments and the solutions proposed to the teachers to balance their workload, Vanaga said it is unacceptable for the proposal to not extend to all workers of the education sector.
«This problem affects all teachers. Currently nothing is proposed to resolve the problems that exist for 20 000 teachers – kindergarten, vocational education and career guidance teachers,» said Vanaga.
The head of LIZDA said an acceptable proposal would be one that offers a balanced workload and pay for all duties performed by teachers, which is something that has been lacking lately. The current offer means the hourly pay will not change – it will remain as approved starting from September.
On 14 September, LIZDA members and the government will continue holding talks about pay increase schedule, because there’s been no result found so far.
«We want to hear solutions, not excuses about legal framework,» said Vanaga.
It is important for LIZDA for decisions to be made by the government, because ‘it is important for there to be documents, not verbal promises, of which there have been many,’ said Vanaga.
On 13 September LIZDA requested a pause for talks in order to study the proposal suggested by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Vanaga said the proposed solution from the ministry applies only to general education teachers, whereas LIZDA requests solutions for all teachers.
Muižniece stressed it is the general education sector that has suffered the most from Covid-19 pandemic and introduction of new education content. This is why the focus is put on this specific education level. It is highly important for the new government to include the interests of kindergartens and other education levels in the new budget.
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said the ruling coalition has agreed on additional funding of EUR 60.2 million.
EUR 3.7 million of this amount will come from the state budget programme for emergencies.
Additional funding from the state budget – EUR 56.5 million – is planned to be used to balance teachers’ workload in 2023. According to Kariņš, this funding can be secured from budget distribution next year.
Although the prime minister said the current government cannot decide on the budget on its own. He did stress that parties of the coalition are still committed to fulfil their promises after elections and increase teachers’ wages.
LIZDA decided to continue talks with the prime minister on 14 September in order to reach an agreement on additional funding for kindergarten and other education level teachers.
In her interview to LTV programme Panorāma on 13 September, Vanaga said it is important for the trade union that all teachers have a balanced workload. This is why LIZDA council agreed to request additional funding from the government in order to equalise the workload for all groups of teachers.
Vanaga said she hopes talks will result in a compromise.
The indefinite strike scheduled for 19 September remains on the table.