A large-scale protest was mounted in Chisinau. Teachers blocked traffic on one of the lanes of Stefan cel Mare Blvd when marching from the Academy of Sciences to the Great National Assembly Square, where they held a demonstration. According to the estimates of education trade unions, the protest involved over 10,000 employees of the education and science sectors. Until now they insisted on a rise of at least 50% in pays, but today they said a 30% increase would do. If the pays are not raised, the teachers are ready to go on strike before the final exams. On the other hand, the authorities consider the protests are rather political in character, IPN reports.
Minister of Education Corina Fusu told the press that time is needed to satisfy the demand to increase the salaries. “We do not want to come up with populist proposals. The rise in salaries depends on the Government’s possibility to budget the necessary funds. For 2017 such money wasn’t earmarked,” she stated.
Education trade union leader Dumitru Ivanov said the teachers cannot work with the salaries they get now. “If the salaries are not raised by at least 30%, we will block the education process” he stated, without mentioning yet a deadline.
Raisa Turcanu, a teacher of the Lyceum of Siret, Straseni, said a halt in the teaching process is not wanted, but they do not have another way out. “There is no time for waiting. What kind of social equity is this? We intend to take strike action. We no longer believe you,” she noted.
Lecturer of the Technical University Daniela Istraţi said she can no longer endure the humiliation to which she is subject as she gets a paltry salary for a huge workload. “The authorities ignore us. We want decent salaries for decent living conditions. The rise of 100 lei as of May 1 is an insult,” she stated.
Dumitru Ene, head of the Drochia inter-sector trade unions council, read an appeal, saying the education and science employees make common cause and will insist on their demands.
The teachers have staged a number of protests until now. Recently, the Government decided to increase the salaries of employees of pre-university, higher and post-university education institutions, but the teachers are dissatisfied with the announced rise.
