“The idea that it is up to teachers to strike to ensure the essential functions of shelter and social support in schools is just a malignant way by the government to question teachers’ right to strike,” the Bloco coordinator wrote. de Esquerda (BE ), Catarina Martins, in a message published on her official account on the social network ‘Twitter’.
In the tweet, accompanied by images of protesting teachers, the BE leader added that “education is not a minimum service and the absolute majority cannot continue to deny the basic conditions demanded by the strikes: respected careers and seniority, transparent competitions, travel expenses as in other professions, working conditions”.
Education is not a minimum service and the absolute majority cannot continue to deny the basic conditions demanded by the strikes: respected careers and seniority, transparent competitions, travel costs as in other professions, working conditions. pic.twitter.com/mUFIq606zj
– Catarina Martins (@catarina_mart) January 28, 2023
Teachers and non-educational staff are demonstrating in Lisbon today, in a protest organized by the Union of All Education Professionals (STOP) to demand better working conditions and wages and against minimum facilities in schools.
The march took place between the building of the Ministry of Education and the official residence of the President of the Republic, where the first demonstrators arrived shortly after 4:15 pm shouting “it’s time for the president to come out”.
The Arbitration Court decided this Friday to set minimum services at the request of the government for the indefinite strike by teachers and non-teachers, which has been going on since December, the Education Ministry reported.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education justified the request for the definition of minimum services with the “duration and unpredictability of the strikes declared by the Union of All Education Professionals (STOP) and the cumulative impact on students, with regard to their protection, food and support in contexts of vulnerability”.
Last week, STOP rejected the proposal to protect minimum services that would allow schools to be open, provide meals and welcome students with special educational needs.
Source: DN
