Teacher unions 'concerned' over lack of progress in collective bargaining talks

After leaving their first collective bargaining meeting with Education Minister Alberto Sileoni, representatives from the five largest teachers’ unions in the country voiced their “concern” over the Government’s alleged lack of response to their calls for a 28 percent hike in the sector’s minimum wage. 

Teachers and Government officials met for a short period of time in the offices of the Education Ministry at 6 pm.

There, teachers presented Sileoni with their salary demands for this year. 

Present in the meeting were representatives from the Confederation of Argentine Education Workers (CTERA), the Argentine Union of Private Teachers (SADOP), Technical Education Teachers’ Association (AMET), Argentine Teachers’ Union (UDA) and the Confederation of Argentine Teachers (CEA). 

Unions have asked for a 28 percent hike in salaries, which would take the teachers’ minimum wage from $2,340 to $3000 pesos. They also said they hoped to discuss matters such as the income tax, which currently concerns the sector.

UDA’s secretary general Sergio Romero said he was concerned over the lack of consensus between both sides and called for more Government responsibility in negotiations. 

“We’re very concerned because the school year begins on February 28th and on top of that there are two national holidays” this month. “We still haven’t reached an agreement on a national level that makes negotiations in the provinces easier,” he indicated.

Education Ministry officials listened to the teachers’ demands and said they would summon them all again for a second meeting, although they did not specify a date.