ZAGREB, Nov 12 (Hina)- Just like last time in June, the information +on Thursday's strike by the Ministry of Education and the teachers' +unions greatly differ.+ According to incomplete data by the Education Ministry, 21.9 per +cent
of a total of 17,278 primary and secondary school teachers took +part in the strike. There is a total of 40,000 school teachers in +Croatia.+ According to the unions, the turnout in elementary schools was low +but as many as 86 per cent of secondary school teachers took part in +the strike. According to the union of 1-4 grade teachers, its +members did not take part in the strike, which took place this +morning.+ The strike was organised by five teachers' unions in support of +their demand for negotiations about the selective raising of +teachers' salaries. + "I expect that the unions and the Ministry will sign a protocol on +negotiations on 16 November, the day the M
ZAGREB, Nov 12 (Hina)- Just like last time in June, the information
on Thursday's strike by the Ministry of Education and the teachers'
unions greatly differ.
According to incomplete data by the Education Ministry, 21.9 per
cent of a total of 17,278 primary and secondary school teachers took
part in the strike. There is a total of 40,000 school teachers in
Croatia.
According to the unions, the turnout in elementary schools was low
but as many as 86 per cent of secondary school teachers took part in
the strike. According to the union of 1-4 grade teachers, its
members did not take part in the strike, which took place this
morning.
The strike was organised by five teachers' unions in support of
their demand for negotiations about the selective raising of
teachers' salaries.
"I expect that the unions and the Ministry will sign a protocol on
negotiations on 16 November, the day the Ministry suggested for
resumption of negotiations. If the protocol is not signed, we will
organise new industrial actions", president of the Independent
Union of Secondary School Teachers Vesna Kanizaj said.
The Independent Union joined the strike also in protest over the
Government's decision to pay a special bonus to teachers who did not
join the last strike, in June 1998. The Union announced it would sue
Deputy Education Minister Miroslav Doresic over a memorandum he
sent to schools on 10 November, describing the strike as
"illegal".
The Union's representatives said the police today visited an
elementary school in Zagreb, which discouraged some teachers from
striking. In a telephone statement for Hina, the school principal
Zrinka Kralj said a policeman called at the school this morning,
inquiring whether there were any problems.
(hina) jn mr/rml