Disagreements over salaries in education

NSZZ “Solidarnosc” demands reinstating increase of salaries every January. New minimum salaries in education have not been agreed upon so far. According to the budget act the average salary in education is set to be increased by 7% this September. However, calculated as average yearly salary, the increase fall below the inflation rate. All the trade unions active in this sector support the demand of increasing salaries twice a year – in January and September – by 5% each time, and they reminded the government of its declarations from last year. The Minister of Education refused, however, to participate in a debate about the new salary scheme. The unions understand this as refusal of social dialogue, especially in the light of declared withdrawal of the Teachers’ Charter, the basic act regulating teachers’ work.