BE argues that SDP proposal on teachers’ length of service is ‘fair’, but position is ‘hypocritical’

The coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE) this Sunday considered that the PSD proposal to gradually pay teachers for the working hours over five years is “fair”, but the position of the Social Democrats is “hypocritical”.

“The proposal is very fair, the position of the PSD is hypocritical, because when it could have approved this proposal, when in the Assembly of the Republic there were votes for consistency and approval of this proposal, the PSD did not approve it, it did not approve of this proposal. “, emphasized Mariana Mortagua.

The bloc leader spoke at a press conference in Lisbon at the end of a meeting of the party’s National Council – the highest body between congresses – and was asked about the proposal presented on Saturday by PSD chairman Luis Montenegro, which seeks to pay teachers in stages for five years of service, allocating 20% Every year.

Mariana Mortagua referred to May 2019, when Prime Minister António Costa threatened to resign if the opposition approved full time tracking for teachers in parliament – a vote in which the PSD ultimately took an opposing position.

“When the SDP had the votes and the opportunity to approve this measure, since there was no absolute majority, the SDP retreated and sided with the government, and it was thanks to this change of position that the teachers did not see their time counted,” he criticized.

Mortagua emphasized that “it is now that the PSD knows that there is an absolute majority – and therefore there is no possibility, by the sum of the votes in parliament, to approve this very fair measure for teachers – and presents this proposal.”

Asked whether the BE intends to approve the Social Democrats’ measure, Mariana Mortagua referred to a “more detailed analysis.”

“BE is currently in favor of reinstating the service period, nothing tells us that this needs to be introduced in stages and that it cannot be done now. But I leave the position for a more detailed analysis,” he replied, emphasizing that “all proposals who give back to teachers what is rightfully theirs are fair.”

In 2019, the parliamentary committee on education approved, among other things, an amendment to the government resolution, which only the PS voted against, stipulating that the length of service subject to compensation for teachers would be nine years, four months and two days, as stated on the date by teachers’ unions.

In the final global vote, PS, PSD and CDS-PP rejected the commission text, which received the support of BE, PCP and PEV, and PAN abstained.

As a result of this vote, the government decree came into force, restoring only two years, four months and 18 days of experience (meaning the period from 2011 to 2017), during which the teaching career was frozen.