Professors of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade are officially set to go on strike today, and simultaneously, the Education Inspection has announced its arrival at the higher education institution, Nada Sekulić, president of the faculty’s Union, told FoNet.
After documentation regarding the strike was submitted to the Ministry of Education on June 9 and the legal deadline for its implementation expired, the inspection is now requesting documents that have already been provided to them, she said.
“We have defined the minimum work of our strikers. Now it remains to be seen how the communication with the inspection will proceed,” Nada Sekulić stated.
She emphasized that, in accordance with legal obligations, an amicable settlement of the dispute was proposed, to which the Ministry of Education should have responded within 10 days.
“That’s the period to resolve the dispute, before the strike comes into force. They didn’t do that; instead, they decided to react to the faculty only after the deadline expired,” Sekulić stated.
The strike at the Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy involves union members engaged in teaching, and their demands primarily relate to measures taken by the state that concern teaching activities and the functioning of the University and teaching staff.
According to the decision, which FoNet had insight into, the immediate repeal of the Decree on Amendments to the Decree on Norms and Standards for Working Conditions of Universities and Faculties for Activities Financed from the Budget is demanded.
They also insist on halting the adoption of new acts regulating teaching and scientific work without respecting laws and procedures.
The dissolution of the Working Group and the cessation of the drafting of the Law on Higher Education are also demanded, a decision that the Government of Serbia has, in fact, already made.
Another demand is the full payment of salary differences to all employees at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade engaged in teaching, whose salaries were reduced before and after the disputed decree came into force.
The employees also demand that the financing of material costs, as well as the costs of current and investment maintenance of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, be ensured in full.
The approval of enrollment quotas and the enabling of unhindered enrollment of a new generation of students is also requested.
Striking employees, in accordance with the Decree on the Minimum Work Process of Faculties and Universities established by Serbia, will perform consultative teaching at their workplaces, including mentoring for final, master’s, and doctoral theses, in a manner agreed upon with the decisions of the student plenum of the Faculty of Philosophy.
Work will also be done on preparing materials for the implementation of teaching activities as soon as the necessary conditions are met.
Defenses of drafts and final master’s and doctoral theses will also be carried out, while other exams at all levels of study will be organized in accordance with the fulfillment of conditions for taking exams under student blockade conditions, and in accordance with the letter from the Rector’s Collegium to the Ministry of Education.
During the strike, participation will continue in working groups, commissions, and working bodies of the Faculty of Philosophy, as well as in the work of departments and sections, the Teaching and Scientific Council, the Electoral Council, and other professional bodies and commissions of the faculty and University.
The organization of entrance exams and enrollment at all levels of study, as well as activities necessary for issuing public documents, will also be carried out.
The strike committee, in cooperation with representatives of the bodies to which the strike was announced, will conduct negotiations with the aim of an amicable settlement of the dispute, in accordance with the Law on Strikes.
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Source: Nova.rs; Photo: ATA Images