Gergely Gulyás, Head of the Prime Minister's Office, said the government agrees with the demands of teachers, but 87 percent of teachers agree that now is not the time for them to go on strike. Speaking to public media about an indefinite strike launched by teachers on Wednesday, Gulyás thanked teachers for the fact that less than 15,000 of those working in public schools had participated in the work stoppage. Counting kindergarten and vocational school teachers, it can be said that overall less than 10 percent of teachers took part in the strike, Gulyás said.
The minister said teachers had legitimate demands, adding that meeting them would be among the most important tasks of the next government term. Brussels is currently discussing the next seven-year budget, Gulyás said, adding that the promised 30 percent wage increase was likely to be implemented. Hungary has asked Brussels for hundreds of billions of forints to help fund the pay hikes, he said. Gulyás thanked teachers for conceding that a strike was not the most suitable form of protest when there is a war going on in Hungary’s neighbouring country and schools also have to take care of refugee children.
Photo credit: MTI