Estonian education workers to hold warning strike on September 22 — ERR News
In Estonia, education workers will hold a nationwide one-hour warning strike on September 22 over pay levels. The action was announced by the Tallinn Education Workers' Union, ERR News reports.
One-hour work stoppage
Employees of preschool institutions plan to stop work from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. In general and vocational education institutions, the strike is to take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The action will cover the entire country and is intended to draw attention to salaries which, according to the union, remain below Estonia's average level.
Union demands
Education workers demand that in 2027 the minimum monthly salary for teachers in general and vocational education institutions be at least €2,312 before taxes. This corresponds to the projected average salary level in the country. The minimum salary for kindergarten teachers, according to the union's demand, should be no less than 90% of this amount, or €2,081.
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The education workers' statement says that the ruling parties have for several years promised to ensure competitive pay for teachers by 2027. At the same time, they say that in recent years the minimum salary for teachers has fallen six percentage points behind the national average salary. During the latest pay negotiations, education workers also received no assurances that their salaries would increase next year.
The strike will take place amid preparations for the 2027 state budget and ahead of a new round of negotiations on teachers' minimum salaries scheduled for September 23. The union expects the government to present a concrete proposal for pay increases then. Earlier, teachers together with rescue workers picketed Estonia's parliament, protesting low wages in the public sector.
