On Tuesday, information appeared on the website of the Ministry of Science and Education stating that Minister Przemysław Czarnek and Deputy Minister Dariusz Piontkowski had met with representatives of teachers’ trade unions and the local-government side. The ministry officials’ statement reads:

(...) Deputy Minister Dariusz Piontkowski addressed the issue of teachers’ salaries. He recalled that in May—like the entire public-sector workforce—they received a 4.4 percent pay rise, and that from September this year the salaries of teachers entering the profession would increase significantly. The base salary rate for teachers beginning work at a school will rise by 20 percent.

“On top of that, we want to add at least 9 percent next year. This is the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Science during the budget process. It met with considerable interest both from the trade-union side [podkreślenie – red.]and from local government. This will be one of the important points in talks with the prime minister,” Deputy Minister Dariusz Piontkowski said after a meeting of the Team for the Professional Status of Teachers.

It appears, however, that—contrary to the deputy minister’s words—representatives of the Polish Teachers’ Union are not satisfied with the outcome of the talks. Today, a resolution of the Presidium of the ZNP Central Board appeared, stating that the board had decided to:

(...) Organize and conduct a nationwide information campaign aimed at informing the public about the growing problems of the education system.

(...) Declare a state of protest readiness in all organizational units of the Union, including, among other things, flying flags and putting up posters at workplaces.

(...) Approach the representative trade unions representing teachers with a proposal to establish an inter-union protest committee.

The trade unionists are demanding a 20 percent increase in teachers’ salaries, linking teachers’ pay to the average wage in the economy, as well as increased spending on education and upbringing.

As the onet.pl website established, the protest action will begin on September 1. The outlet reported: “Its details are to be determined next Monday.

What do you think? We invite you to join the discussion.

(Header photo: illustrative photograph).