Representatives of the Education Union announced that they will address foreign delegations in Montenegro, but also organize a new protest in front of the Government building in August, if the Ministry of Finance maintains its position on introducing the Centralized Wage Calculation (COZ) system for the field of pre-university education.
They warned Prime Minister Milojko Spajić that his government should not be one of those that views teachers as an expense.
During the protest, the educators emphasized that "this is the second time in less than two years that they have been forced to fight for their rights in this way."
At the end of the protest, it was announced that representatives of the Education Union would speak with the Deputy Prime Minister for Education, Budimir Aleksić, at 13 p.m.
The President of the Trade Union, Radomir Božović, said that they received an unofficial message from the Ministry of Finance that "they will not give in this time", which, as he assessed, is an obvious attempt to attack educational workers and their dignity.
"Our natural environment is the classroom, not the street. We can proudly say that we are defending the dignity of educators. This is an attempt to attack education," said Božović.
Božović: They want to reduce our earnings in three ways
According to him, the Ministry of Finance is trying to reduce the salaries of teachers on three grounds: through the implementation of centralized software for calculating salaries, calculating sick leave and eliminating union bonuses. He warned that between 7.000 and 8.000 employees will see a reduction of 1 to as much as 60 euros.
"We did not write the Branch Collective Agreement ourselves. We have opinions from reputable lawyers who confirm that we are absolutely right. However, an individual employee of the Ministry of Finance overturns decisions of commissions via email, which is a scandal in any normal country. We have not received a single piece of paper stating that we did anything illegal," he stated.
Božović said that the government is trying to present the salary reduction as a step towards "introduction into the legal system", but that they are mocking the intelligence of educational workers.
"If you think you are going to reform, but with dissatisfied teachers, you will not get far. Prime Minister, do not let your government be one of those that saw us as an expense. If you continue to ignore us, we will turn to foreign delegations, but also to the courts," Božović said.
Keković: Return to social dialogue
The Secretary General of the Union of Free Trade Unions, Srđan Keković, said that the unions have tried to be partners with this government, but now someone wants to put them under control.
"The matrix is the same, that's what people who were on the same side with us when we fought against the former regime say. If there is something illegal in the existing regulations - change them, but don't put your hand in the pocket of those who have the least. Return to social dialogue," said Keković.
He pointed out that the Union of Free Trade Unions strongly supports the struggle of the Education Union.
"This is a fight for every industry collective agreement," he said.
Marković: Don't treat us like numbers
English professor and member of the Main Board of the Education Union, Irena Marković, pointed out that the salary of an educator is not just a number, but a measure of the state's respect for education.
"Is it possible that in a country that strives for progress, an educational worker is the first to be taken? Behind every salary is someone's life and someone's family. Respect is not learned from textbooks, but by example," said Marković.
Žugić: We have been deceived again
The President of the Municipal Board of the Education Union from Kotor, Manojle Žugić, assessed that educational workers are being perfidiously attacked at a time when they should have been talking about increasing salaries, not reducing them.
"We are not naive, gullible and forgetful. We demand that what has been agreed and signed be respected. If you can hear us, turn off your taps through which the budget is irrationally flowing," said Žugić, adding that the consumer basket exceeds 2.000 euros.
Drašković: If they continue like this, they will face criminal liability
Vice President of the Trade Union of Montenegro
He said that those gathered today were not looking for mass participation, but to encourage the Ministry of Education not to agree to misinterpretations of the law.
"They pass a law, sign a collective agreement, pay salaries and in the end accuse teachers of receiving salaries illegally. They say: 'Be happy that we are not asking you to return what you received' - imagine that. If they pay salaries based on the planned changes, they will be held criminally liable," Drašković warned.
He said that educators will not give up the fight for their rights and that attempts at intimidation will not sway them.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
