Educational workers are calling off a general strike that began on May 22, education unions said. The condition is that the government passes the GEO, which stipulates that the basic salary of a novice teacher will be set at the level of the average gross salary in the economy and is 23% of the maximum salary scale in the public system, since and also that the first the salary contribution increases or by 50% from January 1, 2024. “In a situation where the principles contained in the emergency resolution will not be applied in the text of the new wage law, the strike will be resumed. “, trade unions warn.

Teachers’ protestPhoto: Hotnews / Adrian Vasilache

“Teachers will be in class from tomorrow until our proposals appear in the Official Gazette,” said Prime Minister Nicolae Chuke, who is due to announce his resignation on Monday.

Announcement of education trade unions

“The strike is suspended!

The Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education and the Federation of Trade Unions in Education “SPIRU HARET” based on the results of the consultations of the leaders of the united trade union organizations during the meetings of the Leaders’ Collegiums of the two federations, made a decision: to suspend the general strike, subject to the adoption of the following emergency order at today’s Government meeting as a separate article:

  • the principle according to which the basic salary of a starting university lecturer/assistant will be set at the level of the average gross salary in the economy, which is used to create the known budget of the state social insurance and is 23% of the maximum salary scale in the public system;
  • appointment of the first installment of the wage increase (50% of the wage increase provided for by the new law on wages) from 01.01.2024.

In a situation where the principles outlined in the emergency resolution will not be applied in the text of the new wage law, the strike will be resumed,” the federation of education trade unions sent in a joint press release.

The salary increase from January 1, 2024, which the teachers are asking for, is not in the draft emergency resolution published by the Government, nor in the explanatory memorandum. In the preamble of the PZP, there is also a paragraph about what the salary should be from January 1, 2024, but this paragraph is irrelevant at this point, according to the norms of the current legislative technique.

Regarding the emergency order no. 53 of 2023, the promised 25% increase actually amounts to 300 lei gross for all teaching and support staff, according to the document. For comparison, here are the tariff plans for May 2023.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Chuke said at the start of a cabinet meeting that he was confident that “all teachers in the education system will believe that we are delivering on our promises, as we have demonstrated so far.”

According to the draft emergency decree, which was put up for public discussion after the government made a new offer to trade unionists on Sunday, the salaries of teachers and teaching support staff are to increase by 1,300 lei gross per position from June 1. For non-teaching staff in the national education system, the planned increase is 400 lei gross.

Educators demanded to issue a regulatory act, according to which, starting January 1, 2024, the debutant’s salary should be at the level of the average accrued salary in the economy of the previous budget year. And this time, the measure is only written in an auxiliary note and in the preamble, considering that the teachers from the beginning requested that this provision be found in the text of the order.

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“The new salary law will be based on the principle that the basic salary of an elementary teacher/university assistant will be set at the level of the average gross salary in the economy, which is used to base the known budget of the state social insurance and represents 23% of the maximum salary with of the budget, and the wage increase according to the new grid will take place in stages, the first installment from January 1, 2024 will be 50% of the wage increase provided for by the new law on wages,” the preamble states. GEO.

Following the proposal, the unions said they would consult with teachers in the area and provide a response this morning.

Prime Minister Nicolae Chuke said on Sunday, after consultations with education unions, that the executive had shown it had delivered on what it promised, and on Monday, after teachers responded, a new government meeting would be held to approve the GEO on salaries.

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