Monday, March 12, 2012

SUTEBA’s Barabel says teachers waiting gov't call to resume wage talks

Negotiations between the Buenos Aires province government and teacher unions were due to resume today but according to union leaders the Province’s Labour Ministry has not called the teachers back to the negotiations table yet.

SUTEBA Secretary General Roberto Baradel has admitted today no official contact was established but unionists and the government could reach the negotiation table by as early as today.

Last Tuesday, teachers led a 48 hours national strike in demand of a minimum wage of 3,100 pesos, after the provincial government refused to pay the amount and counter offered 2,860 pesos. The strike affected over four million students. Baradel reiterated today that if the offer stands it is doomed to be rejected by the teachers.

The Federation of Buenos Aires Province Educators’ head Mirta Petrocini warned earlier that if a deal is not reached teachers will push for another strike. “If an offer that meets the sector’s demands is not given, we will implement the extreme measures voted on our Extraordinary Assembly session,” Petrocini stressed.