Teachers salaries to be cut 20 percent

2009-04-20
TBT staff

RIGA - Teachers' salaries are to be reduced by 20 percent per shift as the discussions between the Education and Science Ministry and teachers unions agreed.

Among the options on the table, this proposal had been the most likely candidate for acceptance. Inga Stale, Director of the finance department of the Ministry said that they took into consideration the terms and conditions of the changes so the process would not affect the reforms to be carried out in the education sector. Among the proposed changes is the plan to turn control of the schools over to local municipalities.

The government still needs to approve the proposal and should it pass, salaries will be reduced by 69 lats (98 euros) per shift.

Latvian Education and Science Workers Union's representative Baiba Baskere said that despite the agreement, protests from the union will continue to take place. A strike is also being considered, she said.

However, the good news for teachers according to Stale is that should the government approve even tighter budget cuts, teachers salaries would definitely not be reduced as the salaries would then not reach the level of minimum wage.