The Independent Union of Preschool Education and Care held a one-hour warning strike this morning, and a meeting is scheduled for today between Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and Minister of Education Slavica Đukić Dejanović with representatives of the representative education unions, which will also include preschool employees. Slobodanka Ninić, secretary of the Independent Union of Preschool Education and Care, told FoNet that around 17,000 people participated in this morning’s warning strike, but that a division is noticeable.
According to her, there are two main reasons for not participating in the strike – the inability to carry out the strike because some local self-governments have not made a decision on the minimum process of work, which is necessary for employees in kindergartens, as they are declared an activity of direct public interest for society.
“Some did not participate in the strike because they are outraged and do not want to express themselves with a strike for only one hour, but want it to last longer and be more noticeable,” said Ninić.
She also stated that Belgrade was divided, so this morning nine municipalities and their preschool institutions were on strike, while eight were not.
“Among those nine, you have institutions that closed their facilities for an hour and those that organized work in almost all facilities, but with a reduced number of performers. Some institutions even gave an order for everyone to work. Because of that, the inspection will soon have work to do. We will have to be persistent and protect that small space that the law gives us to express our dissatisfaction,” said Ninić.
She points out that after today’s meeting in the Government, which is scheduled for 1:30 pm, if there is any new and more concrete offer, it will be considered by the union bodies.
“We got stuck on those eight and 12 percent and on their persistence to divide employees into two categories – those who work directly with children and other staff,” said Ninić, adding that every employee is important for the functioning of kindergartens – from those who clean to those who prepare special meals for children with allergies.
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“When translated into money, that is 0.4 percent of the real funds and money needed for all employees to receive 12 percent,” said Ninić.
Ninić added that the government previously mentioned the possibility of a one-time aid for employees in kindergartens and schools in 2025, but it was not said when it could be paid or how much it would be.
The preschool union is demanding that the salaries of employees in preschool institutions be increased by 21 percent and that no distinction be made between educational and administrative staff.
“The demand for a 21% increase in the price of labor and a correction of the 105.5% coefficient for all employees in preschool institutions in Serbia is based on the standard we achieved in 2023, which is that the salary of technical staff amounts to 105.5% of the minimum price of labor,” it was previously announced by the Independent Union of Preschool Education and Care.
Today’s meeting of representative education unions with government representatives was scheduled after it was announced that they would go on a one-day strike on Friday, November 1, when they would stop working, while they would also organize a protest in Belgrade, starting at 12:00, the union’s decision states. It was also announced that from Monday, November 4, classes in schools would be shortened to 30 minutes, and that preschool institutions would receive children from 9:00 am.
As FoNet was told today in the Independent Union of Preschool Education and Care, that strike has already been reported so that there are no legal obstacles. Representative unions of education workers organized protests in Belgrade and a large number of cities in Serbia in September and October, as well as strikes in schools, because they are dissatisfied with the government’s offer to increase teachers’ salaries by 12 percent from January 1, and others by eight percent.
The unions are also demanding that negotiations on the price of labor for 2025 and on a Special Collective Agreement for employees in primary and secondary schools and student dormitories begin urgently, as the existing one expires in the spring.
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Source: Nova.rs
Photo: Nemanja Jovanović/Nova.rs