Polish gov’t in talks with teachers over pay

Officials including Education Minister Anna Zalewska and Family, Labour and Social Policy Minister Elżbieta Rafalska were expected to discuss ways of reaching an agreement with three unions representing the country's teachers.

Poland’s president last week appealed to the government and teachers to hold talks and try to resolve the dispute.

Sławomir Broniarz, head of the powerful Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP), told reporters on Monday that up to 90 percent of employees in schools nationwide were ready to support an all-out strike, which the union wants to begin on April 8, just before key exams at various levels of education.

Teachers represented by the ZNP have warned they will launch a strike of unlimited duration unless the government increases their wages by PLN 1,000 (EUR 230, USD 265) a month.

Another union known as the Trade Unions Forum (FZZ) is also demanding a monthly pay raise of PLN 1,000 for teachers beginning this year, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Solidarity union wants teachers’ monthly pay to rise by PLN 650 this year and by a further 15 percent next year, according to the IAR news agency.

The education ministry has said that it last year began carrying out a government plan to raise teachers' pay.

Spending on teachers' salaries is set to increase by 16.1 percent by September compared with March last year, according to the ministry.

(gs)

Source: IAR