Education syndicalists obtained approximately 450 million lei from the state budget for teaching staff pay rise

In the result of negotiations with the Moldovan Government, the Education and Science Trade Union (ESTU) obtained the sum of 450 million lei from the state budget, for the pay rise of the teaching staff, President of ESTU Dumitru Ivanov declared Tuesday, May 20, 2014, within the meeting of the Republican Council of Education and Science Trade Union, in which Prime-Minister Iurie Leancă participated too. 

At the same time, ESTU requested the teachers’ pay rise of 5%, besides the already obtained 20%, for the first stage, till September 1, 2014. Otherwise, the syndicalists and teachers will continue the protest actions.

Dumitru Ivanov mentioned that, at the moment, they obtained the 900-lei wage increase for each teacher, which is a considerable increase of the income.

“The Government answered to our demands, we know that Republic of Moldova is not a rich country, but it is impossible for teachers to offer a qualitative education in conditions of a miserable wage. The young people will not come to activate in this field, which will lead to the breakdown of the branch”, Ivanov specified.

Deputy-President of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova Mihail Hîncu considers that it is possible to find money from the state budget till autumn for a 25% pay rise of the teaching staff salaries.

”The money can be obtained from the informal economy, if certain actions are carried out in this respect, and with the beginning of 2015 to continue negotiations for the further increase of the teachers’ wages or for a new remuneration system”, Hîncu declared.

In his turn, Prime-Minister of Republic of Moldova Iurie Leancă stated that the request of the Education and Science Trade Union is also a constant objective of the Government and the country needs a qualitative and modern education system.

”During the next 2-3 months we’ll thoroughly analyse the possibility of another 5% pay rise for teachers. But, it all depends on the regional situation and the stability of our country”, the Premier concluded.

We remind that in the result of negotiations held by ESTU with the Government’s members, the 20% pay rise was obtained for all categories and functions of the teaching staff; the increase of the monthly wages for kindergartners and other teaching staff of the kindergartens and day nurseries (musical leader, speech pathologist, logopedist) – with near 32%. The extra payment for form masters will be increased up to 20% and will be established in single measure for all form masters – 180 lei per month. In August it will be offered the annual premium for teaching staff in measure of one position wage.

In April the syndicalists and teachers organized many protest actions and a meeting, requesting the increase of the teaching staff’s salaries up to 50%; the establishment of the wage rate for the 1^st category of single tariff network equal to the subsistence level; the increase in pay for holders of scientific degrees: “Doctor of Science” – 1000 lei and “Doctor Habilitatus” – 1500 lei; the increase of the rate of study scholarships for all categories of studing youth, starting with January 1, 2014 etc.

Trade Unions Informational Centre