Teachers protested in Bratislava

Teachers' trade unions and other professional organisations protested in Bratislava on Tuesday against the fact that the Government manifesto does not include concrete guarantees for their pay rises. Based on the Government Manifesto, salaries at virtually all types of schools should be increased by 6 percent on average as of September this year. At the same time a scheme has been introduced to hike teachers' salaries by 6 percent on an annual basis as of January, 2018. "Pay rises are guaranteed only in September this year. Another three steps of pay rises are only under the condition of changes in the system", said Pavel Ondek, the head of the Trade Union of the Education Employees. The unions declare that the promised pay rises will not make the job of a teacher attractive, and the quality of the school system will decline. Moreover, the Government Manifesto also does not include any plans about non-education workers in the system. The Education Ministry stated that it respects the right of teachers to protest.