Education Ministry comes up with one more proposal to avert teachers' strike

RIGA - In a final bid to avert an open-end teachers' strike, the Education and Science Ministry will today make one more proposal to the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA), offering EUR 56.5 million from the state budget and EUR 12 million from municipal budgets, Education and Science Minister Anita Muizniece (Conservatives) said. 

The minister voiced hope that the latest proposal will help avert the looming strike of education employees. 

Tonight, LIZDA and representatives of the government coalition are continuing talks on teachers' demands. 

As reported, the teachers' union on Wednesday still decided to go ahead with the termless teachers' strike, rejecting the proposal prepared by the Education and Science Ministry, LIZDA chairwoman Inga Vanaga informed. 

She said that the strike will be organized because a compromise has not been reached. LIZDA believes that the ministry's proposal is aimed at splitting up teachers because the proposal did not include all groups of teachers.

"LIZDA has been trying to find a solution for teachers' work load already starting from 2016, and these decision had to be made sooner," said Vanaga.

"We cannot put up with the proposal presented by the ministry as it covers only a part of teachers. Of course, the fiscal proposal is tempting, but there are several risk moments, including a possible chaos if preschool teachers decide to go to work to primary schools or vocational school teachers choose to work in general schools," said Vanaga.

"Solidarity and common stance are important. There are demands on certain issues and it is not acceptable to switch to different needs all of a sudden," said Vanaga.

As reported, the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) on Thursday will continue negotiations with the government coalition parties to agree on how to distribute the proposed additional funding for teachers, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said in a press conference after meeting with LIZDA representatives on Wednesday.