As the Hungarian government has revoked virtually all coronavirus-related restrictions and obligations, a teachers' trade union is demanding that the Orbán administration revoke those that restrict their right to strike as well.Continue reading
The PDSZ teacher union, which has formed a strike committee, on Wednesday called on the government to negotiate its demands concerning wages and workload.
The union wants the basic wage for teachers to match that of civil servants, while it calls for other employees working in the sector to receive no less than the minimum wage.
Among further demands, the union also wants the 22 hour limit on classroom teaching to be restored and overtime payments.
They said that the date of the possible strike would be decided by the strike committee later, depending on the outcome of the talks.
PDSZ has asked the government to assign a representative for talks in the next five days.
In response, the human resources ministry on Wednesday cited the Appeal Court’s decision that strikes are to be held in line with the relevant legislation, which mandates schools to provide child care and education during strikes.
The decision “is the end of the legal dispute with unions”, the ministry said, referring to the unions’ claim that the legislation was in essence robbing teachers of the right to strike.
The ministry called on the union to “stop misleading parents and the public”. “In the current war situation, peace and calm is needed in schools, and we ask the unions to reconsider their intention to strike,” the statement said.
The government is committed to further raising teachers’ wages, the statement added.
Featured photo illustration by János Vajda/MTI