The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) on Wednesday said that the restoration of frozen working hours is not a claim, but a demand for teachers’ rights, therefore it supports the announced strikes until the government agrees to negotiations.
“This is not a claim, this is a requirement, because the length of service has been fulfilled,” Secretary General Fenprofa said during the closing of the nationwide meeting of leaders and delegates of teachers’ unions that are part of the federation, which began its activities. Tuesday is the fair at the Voz do Operario in Lisbon.
Recovery after six years, six months and 23 days was one of the biggest challenges for teachers this past school year.
With strikes due to overwork starting on the first day of school and a nationwide strike scheduled for October 6, the scenario should remain the same, Mario Nogueira expects, unless the Ministry of Education agrees to negotiate the issue.
“Teachers do not even demand everything at once,” the union leader insisted, recalling that the proposal presented by Fenprof late last week provides for a phased restoration of seniority and that the organization is ready to discuss another calendar.
“Don’t tell us, because we don’t accept it, that it’s time to forget,” he added.
As for the strike scheduled for October 6, Mario Nogueira admitted that he hopes it will be the last, but “if the path of negotiations does not solve the problems, then it will only be the first.”
The next point for government assessment will be the presentation of the state budget for 2024, and if the executive’s proposal for the education sector is “almost the same”, maintaining what Fenprof says is a trend of declining investment in public schools, teachers are “determined to continue fight.”
During his speech, Secretary General Fenprofa also warned of a growing shortage of teachers in schools, noting that a week before the start of the school year, 1,724 timetables still have to be filled, and on the other hand, about 1,000 teachers are expected to retire before December.
According to Mario Nogueira, the increase in demand for educational courses, which the Minister of Education often talks about, is not enough and does not solve the problem immediately.
“The first measure should be the return of those who have left the profession,” he defended, arguing that this was possible only if a teaching career was valued.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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