Sileoni questions teachers' strikes

Education Minister Alberto Sileoni has strongly questioned the series of strikes called by unions over the past days, stating that “there is no indignity in teachers’ salaries” and that negotiations can not start “with a 48-hour walkout”.

Although he considered teachers’ claims “reasonable”, the Victory Front official accused unions of taking “extreme measures” and that children’s education must be “protected”.

By the end of February, the administration of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced a 22 per cent increase but unionized groups rejected the offer calling it “insufficient” and urging the national government to reopen salary negotiations as they seek to reach a 30 per cent hike in minimum wages.

As the conflict deepens, unions have already threatened to launch a one-week strike next week in the Province of Buenos Aires.