CFK warns Santa Fe teachers over rejection of basic salary offer

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner called on teachers in the Santa Fe province to “reflect” on their decision to reject socialist governor Antonio Bonfatti’s offer of a $4000 pesos basic salary, warning that they are not being “sensible” and are failing to set an example. 

“Your governor is offering a $4,000 pesos a month. The government of the Buenos Aires province could come to an agreement with teachers over a $2,900 pesos. It would be great for teachers to change their mind. I don’t think they are being sensible and there are failing to set an example,” she stated.

Fernández de Kirchner added that “there’s no better way to defend public schools than by teaching a class.” 

She then recalled that “many private schools are subsidized by the Government,” adding that “a teacher who goes on strike in a public school wouldn’t do it in a private one.”

“When they don’t go to work (in a private school) teachers don’t get paid or are fired. Public schools cannot be defended with slogans or speeches. But they can be defended with actual work,” she concluded.