More than five thousand teachers occupy Aliados do Porto in protest against the government.

This Saturday afternoon, more than five thousand teachers occupied Avenida dos Aliados in Porto to protest the government’s proposals for a new recruitment and employment regime and the lack of openness to negotiate old claims.

“Thousands of teachers. When the front of the demonstration arrived at Aliados, the tail was still with the Marquis. I believe there were more than 5,000 protesters,” PSP agent controlling traffic on Avenida dos Aliados at 17:00.

Armed with drums, whistles, posters, loudspeakers and microphones, thousands of teachers from different parts of the country – Braga, Bragança, Viana do Castelo, Coimbra, Aveiro, Maia, Matosinhos, Porto and elsewhere – flocked to the Allies. from about 17:00, after the parade through several streets of Porto, from Marquis Square.

“Government is listening, teachers are fighting”, “Professors are united, they will never be defeated”, “Rallies are not enough, decisions are needed”, “National competition for professional graduation”, “Teachers demand respect” are some of them. phrases shouted out by teachers.

Anabela Ferreira, cycle 1 teacher, left Viana do Castelo this Saturday at 13:00 to take part in the protest in Porto.

In an interview with Lusa, Anabela Ferreira said the fight “must continue until the laws change.”

“Even if we have to fight until 2024. We will not give up,” the teacher said in front of Porto City Hall in Aliados. “Respect” was the slogan of the teachers, who were emotional and tired of the “lack of respect for the profession,” notes Paula Cataluna, a teacher from Braga.

Trade unions and the Ministry of Education have been in talks since September to try to reach an agreement on a new recruitment and placement model for teachers.

The last meeting was held last week, which ended without an agreement, the unions said they would ask for more meetings.

The new proposal presented this week by the government has not convinced unions, which say they are keeping some of the “red lines” teachers have already pointed out, such as in the case of teacher zone boards.

Teachers have been on strike since December, while an indefinite strike was called by the Union of All Education Workers (Stop), which remains in protest against the government’s proposal for competitions and placement of teachers.