The salaries of university academic staff promise to increase from September; SLOT withdraws the picket

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Inga Vanaga, the chairwoman of the Latvian Union of Educators and Researchers (LIZDA), told the portal “Delfi” that in connection with today’s decision, LIZDA on Tuesday, August 18, is canceling the planned picket. “We keep our word, as we have always held. The demand was to comply with the legislation for 2020, then this compromise solution is secured. Next, everything about 2021 and 2022 – these are the negotiations on the medium-term budget, where “We will work on it. In any case, the picket requirement has been met,” Vanaga explained.

“The information I have at the moment is that the MES has found funds from its internal resources, which would be this year’s payment. Negotiations on next year’s budget are still ongoing. The only thing that can be said is that, of course, it is difficult to reduce something next year. again, but it is good that during the review of the expenditures of the Ministry of Education and Science and other ministries, they find a better and more efficient use of the money given to them, “Saeima deputy Atis Zakatistovs (KPV LV) said at the press conference.

In his turn, the Minister of Justice Jānis Bordāns (JKP) pointed out that education, just like medicine, is a priority for Latvia.

The Minister of Education and Science Ilze Šuplinska (JKP) was previously ready to direct 383,777 euros from the department of the responsible ministry to increase the salaries of the academic staff of the university. Court and Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV), and the Latvian Trade Union of Educators and Researchers (LIZDA) indicated that a long – term solution is needed. “It would not be acceptable for people’s salaries to be increased for four months and then abruptly reduced,” Inga Vanaga, the chairman of LIZDA, told the portal “Delfi”.

Already postedthat in mid-June this issue – the salary of university teachers – was postponed to next year’s budget discussions. The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) encouraged professors to increase the lowest salary rate by 39 euros, to 1569 euros, associate professors – by 31 euros, up to 1256 euros, docents – by 25 euros, up to 1005 euros, lecturers – by 20 euros, up to 805 euros, but for assistants – by 16 euros, up to 641 euros. However, the government decided not to support such an idea, wrote the agency LETA.

In its turn, LIZDA calls on the government to increase the minimum rate of remuneration for teachers of higher education institutions by 40 euros, ie from 750 euros to 790, starting from September 1.

As the portal “Delfi” found out, not increasing the salaries of university teachers would threaten a shortage of teachers. Ports, as Vanaga explained, the young professionals, faced with the real salary and workload, choose to be practitioners or work in the private sector.

Rector of the University of Latvia (LU) Indrikis Muiznieks also has a similar opinion, who said: “If we want to ensure the quality of studies, the competitiveness of the university, especially if we talk about achievements that should be assessed in world rankings, then we must provide at least slightly comparable ( with university lecturers working abroad – ed.) salaries “. Vanaga also reported that experienced teachers often have no one to give their work relay to.

Already postedthat the readiness to participate in the rally organized by LIZDA was also confirmed by the Latvian Medical Association (LĀB). “Given that many health care workers are also university lecturers and researchers, we have a duty to support educators’ efforts to achieve fair compensation for all those working in the sector. Since the last protests in the health care sector, LĀB and LIZDA have worked closely together In this picket, we want to reaffirm the solidarity of the two most important sectors for Latvia and the maturity of Latvian civil society, “Ilze Aizsilniece, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, informed on Friday.

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