As reported earlier, after failing to have their demands met regarding compliance with predefined principles on teacher pay and workload, the Latvian Education and Science Workers' Union (LIZDA) have announced an open-ended strike effective September 19.
The Prime Minister claimed that he understands teachers' concerns about salaries in the new financing model and the transition to the new teaching content. Kariņš also said that Education and Science Minister Anita Muižniece is open to discussion with the teachers union and wants to find the best solution.
“In our country with the challenges of this moment, we don't need such a strike when thinking about our children. This would deprive them of educational opportunities, the last few years for children have been very difficult in the context of the Covid. I am looking forward to mutual understanding,” Kariņš said.
The Prime Minister said that the teachers' salary model is a budgetary issue, so a decision is likely to be taken only in the next parliamentary term. “We must remember that we are at the end of the Saeima, the budget issues, especially the long-term ones, should be adopted by the next Saeima, the government. We can look at perhaps some issues [..] But if they are budget-sensitive, it is a matter for the next Saeima, the government.”
