- Title: SERBIA: Teachers in Belgrade go on strike for higher pay
- Date: 16th February 2011
- Summary: BUDGET EXPERT, SASA RADULOVIC TALKING TO JOURNALIST RADULOVIC' HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) AN EXPERT ON BUDGETS, WHO ADVISES THE SERBIAN ASSOCIATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES, SASA RADULOVIC, SAYING: "I really don't see how the government can meet teachers demands as the economy doesn't have the means and also that would make planning the budget almost impos
- Embargoed: 3rd March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Serbia, Serbia
- Country: Serbia
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Education
- Reuters ID: LVA1HMQMIQHBNH3PFTKJRX847NFO
- Story Text: A majority of teachers in Serbia's 1,800 schools went on strike on Friday (January 28) to demand a 24.5 percent wage increase and overdue benefits.
Local newspapers reported that the action would affect some 1,500 schools. Analysts were more cautious saying about 1,160 schools or more than 60 percent, had gone on strike after the collapse of talks this week in which unions demanded 20 billion dinars (187 million euros) extra.
Authorities have so far refused to meet teachers' demands, saying the state budget cannot meet their requirements.
Belgrade teacher, Miodrag Sokic told Reuters TV that in the long-run education will suffer if teachers are not offered more resources.
"This strike is the biggest in the last decade. It has two essential goals: to improve the humiliated position of teachers and second to improve the quality of the school system. So it's also a battle for better education," Sokic said.
Education in Serbia was badly hit by a decade which saw fighting in the Balkans and international isolation in the 1990s. The system has been slowly recovering and education is a key condition for Serbia's bid to join the European Union.
On the streets, some Belgrade citizens came out in support of the strike.
"I am always on the side of those who are on strike for better wages," Jovanka Mrvos said, "I support them, the whole country should go on strike, not only teachers," Predrag Alkesic added.
Under the provisions of a 3 billion euro deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009, Serbia pledged to contain its 2011 deficit at 4.1 percent of GDP and to secure a three percent growth this year, following a 1.5 percent growth in 2010.
Serbia has also pledged it will reduce spending and in 2009 introduced a freeze of wages in the public sector and pensions, something Belgrade agreed to lift if it gets its household in order.
Sasa Radulovic, an expert on budgets, who advises the Serbian associations of small and medium enterprises, says the strikers' demands are unrealistic.
"I really don't see how the government can meet teachers demands as the economy doesn't have the means and also that would make planning the budget almost impossible," he told Reuters.
For Serbia's teachers most of whom earn an average salary of less than 30,000 dinars (280 euros), the IMF is someone else's problem. They are more worried about makingmeet. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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