Parents of children who attend schools and kindergartens in Riga have to keep in mind that due to the upcoming teachers’ strike, they will have to look after their children on their own, says Riga City Council Education, Culture and Sports Committee head Iveta Ratinīka.
She explains that in the coming days information about the number of teachers who plan to participate in the upcoming strike organised by Latvian Education and Science Workers’ Union.
Although there is no precise information at the moment, it is likely multiple education institutions will have to deal with major disruptions.
The situation may turn out critical for kindergartens, which already have a major problem due to shortage of workers.
Neither schools nor kindergartens have reserve teachers to replace the ones that will go on strike.
Due to the upcoming strike, residents have to keep in mind they will have to look after their children on their own for some time, especially if all teaching staff of the school or kindergarten decide to go on strike.
«They didn’t hear us when we said teachers cannot handle excessive workload. Now they have to deal with consequences,» added Ratinīka.
As previously reported, on Wednesday, 7 September, the reconciliation committee failed to come up with a compromise in the teachers’ pay increase issue. Because of that LIZDA decided to prepare for the indefinite strike, which is scheduled to commence 19 September.
The trade union plans to submit all required documents to organise a strike by 12 September. Nevertheless, LIZDA says politicians still have time to find a solution and prevent the strike.
One of the trade union’s demands is a balanced workload. LIZDA does not agree with the proposal from the Ministry of Education and Science to balance the workload by the year 2028. This would take too long, and Latvia cannot afford to wait, considering all existing problems.
The other demand is for the government to comply with the existing teachers’ pay increase schedule.
Also read: Medics: Latvia needs 30 million euros to satisfy strike demands