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On Monday, January 22, teachers of Estonian general education schools in Tallinn began an indefinite strike. The Estonian Education Workers Union (EHL) reported that 330 schools and 9,471 teachers nationwide were involved in the strike. Taking into account those who will take part in the solidarity strikes from Wednesday, the total number of strikers could exceed 18,000, it is said MAD.
EHL leader Remo Voltri said the coalition led by the ruling “Reform Party” was indifferent to the current situation and expressed hope that a solution would be found to avoid a prolonged strike.
Many schools have told parents that the strike will initially last five days,
However, in an interview with “Vikerraadio” on Monday morning, Voltri mentioned that the strike could last for several weeks in the current situation.
According to Voltri, the situation is not a surprise neither for Education Minister Kristina Kallas of Eesti 200 nor for the coalition partners Social Democrats, who have been looking for a solution to the problem, but rather the largest coalition party, the Reform Party, seems unwilling to acknowledge the problem. Seriousness.
Voltri stressed that the main reason for the strike was the shortage of teachers in Estonia.
which endangers the quality of education in the coming years. He warned that if the quality of education deteriorates, “in the future, economic growth and tax revenues will not reach the state budget other than through tax increases.”
The EHL wanted the minimum gross monthly salary of teachers to be increased to 1,950 euros, which would lead to additional spending of 46 million euros for the state budget. The union then offered a compromise – 1,835 euros, which would lead to additional costs of ten million euros for the state budget.
The compromise also included the condition to immediately start negotiations on the contract for the next three years to agree an increase in the average salary of teachers to 120% of the national average salary by 2027.
According to Remo Voltri, three quarters of teachers are currently on strike. Despite the widespread strike, Voltri was optimistic that an agreement would be reached and the strike would not be extended, allowing students to resume classes.
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