Teachers see in the government a willingness to solve problems and demand reinstatement of their seniority after three years

The Association of Licensed Teachers (ASPL) this Thursday defended the reinstatement of seniority after three years during a meeting with the supervisory board, which sees a “clear and decisive will to solve problems.”

ASPL was the first trade union structure to meet with the new team led by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, who this Thursday welcomes the ten trade union structures of the sector.

At the meeting, “one could see a clear and determined desire to solve problems that urgently need to be addressed and that are clearly identified by this team,” ASPL President Fatima Ferreira said in statements to reporters.

The government has promised that it will reinstate seniority in stages over five years, but ASPL maintains its requirement for reimbursement in just three years, i.e. at 33% per annum.

During the meeting, ASPL also warned of the need to review the sick mobility certificate, which sets out rules that allow sick teachers or those with sick family members to remain in school closer to home or where treatment is being carried out.

“Of the 14 main problems identified by teachers, only four are not among the government’s priorities,” said Fatima Ferreira, referring to mobility due to illness, the end of vacancies for access to grades 5 and 7, and retirement and pre-retirement age and cases of teachers who want to be integrated into the Caixa Geral de Aposentações.

The ASPL will return to the ministry for new meetings at the beginning of May, as will the National Federation of Education and Research (FENEI), the union’s João Rios told reporters.

At the meeting, FENEI stressed the importance of restoring frozen working hours, as well as the urgent need to reorganize schools and the schedules of teachers, “who now hardly leave school, and much of this work is not even related to students, but to bureaucratic work.”

After ASPL and FENEI, negotiations are carried out with FEPECI – the Portuguese Federation of Professionals in Education, Teaching, Culture and Research, followed by Pró-Ordem dos Professores and SEPLEU – Union of Teachers and Licensed Teachers.

In the afternoon there will be meetings with SIPE – Independent Union of Teachers and Educators, SIPPEB – Union of Primary and Primary Education Teachers, SNPL – National Union of Licensed Teachers, SPLIU – National Union of Licensed Polytechnic and University Teachers and o STOP – All Teachers Union.

Last week, the minister reaffirmed commitments made before the March 10 elections, promising to return five years of service, or 20% annually of the six years, six months and 23 days frozen during the Troika period. .

In addition to the minister, the event will also be attended by Undersecretary of State for Education Alexandre Homem Cristo, Secretary of State for Governance and Educational Innovation Pedro Dantas da Cunha and Secretary of State for Public Administration Marisa Garrido. meetings.

On Friday it will be the turn of the ministry team to welcome the National Federation of Education and Fenprof.