This time teachers will insist on their position in order to make sure politicians complete their promises, said the manager of Latvian Trade Union of Educational and Scientific Workers (LIZDA) Inga Vanaga to the media before the start of the protest procession.
The 24th of April marks the start of a three-day teachers’ strike in Latvia. More than 19 000 teachers will be participating in it.
Latvian medical workers will be joining teachers in strike. Manager of Latvian Medical Association (LĀB) Ilze Aizsilniece told the media that approximately 1 000 medical workers have signed up to join teachers on strike. Aizsilniece also said a bigger protest from medical workers is planned for May and September.
Both Vanaga and Aizsilniece said for years the Latvian government has not listened to representatives of either sector, nor has the government fulfilled its promises. Another important aspect both representatives mentioned is the context within which it is necessary to look at the education and medical sector’s funding. Aizsilniece said the approach from the government should “calculate the costs of education and medicine per capita”. “We need young, healthy and educated people that do their research here, who write their doctorates here, not abroad. People who stay, live and work here,” said the head of LĀB.
When asked if medical workers joined LIZDA’s request for PM Krišjānis Kariņš’s dismissal, Aizsilniece said this proposal is under discussion.
“It is clear, however, that politicians have to change their approach. At least try to listen and speak, not just order us around,” said Aizsilniece.
Vanaga explained that politicians have not completed part of the agreement. She added they have also included certain points that were not previously discussed with the sector. “Multiple groups of teachers do not even have a wage range. Politicians have also forgotten about the agreement reached with administrations [of education institutions] – that wages must not be below a certain range. They have also forgotten about speech therapists and psychologists. There is not funding available [for these groups],” said Vanaga.
LIZDA manager also stressed teachers expect politicians to show up. She also hopes they will sit down with the trade union to discuss and resolve existing problems. When asked if demands from the industry could remain unaddressed, Vanaga said further decisions will be made after the strike.
“We will not accept this irresponsible and disrespectful treatment, when 14 minutes before a government meeting politicians can submit documents that weren’t coordinated with anyone [sector, trade union],”
stressed Vanaga.
Last week, the Latvian government viewed and approved updated regulations on the increase of teachers’ wages despite objections and threats from LIZDA.
Amendments submitted by the Ministry of Education and Science suggest increasing the lowest hourly rate for all teachers except pre-school teachers to EUR 8.50 starting with the 1st of September.
Additionally, amendments suggest increasing the lowest wages of teachers by 13.3% in the transition period between the 1st of September 2023 and the 31st of December 2025.
It is planned for monthly wages of teachers to be EUR 1 224 starting with the 1st of September.
LIZDA “is deeply disappointed with the irresponsible and arrogant policy frequently employed by the ruling coalition and believes that not listening to opinions of public opinions is a fruitless and disrespectful strategy of politicians”. The trade union also stresses that the planned amendments “do not complete the agreement reached on teachers’ wages”. This means the strike is still a go. LIZDA also mentioned that if the government does not comply with teachers’ ultimatums, they will request the prime minister’s dismissal.
As for the objections from LIZDA, the Ministry of Education and Science stresses that all demands from the trade unions included in documents have been completed.
The ministry believes the three-day strike cannot be considered legal, because all the demands have already been met.
Some Latvian residents, meanwhile, agree with the government and say that “teachers complain too much” and that “they cannot assess their own accomplishments”. Some social network users even say the head of LIZDA is “dishonest” with her plans for a teachers’ strike.
Also read: Minister claims Latvian government has fulfilled promise given to teachers