Education Strike in Dalmatia Begins, Teachers Demand Pay Rise

The news in Croatian

1. županija  (f.)
   Administrativna jedinica u Hrvatskoj, ekvivalentna okrugu ili kantonu u drugim zemljama. ↩︎
2. sindikat  (m.)
   Organizacija koja predstavlja radnike i brine se o njihovim pravima i interesima. ↩︎
3. povećanje  (n.)
   Proces ili rezultat povećavanja, čin čineći nešto većim. ↩︎
4. uvjet  (m.)
   Skup odredbi ili okolnosti pod kojima nešto djeluje ili se izvodi. ↩︎
5. smanjiti
   Učiniti nešto manjim, smanjiti količinu ili intenzitet. ↩︎
6. planirati
   Određen ili dogovoren unaprijed. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: In how many Dalmatian counties did the strike begin?

Question 2: What percentage pay rise are the unions asking for?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
županija  (f.)	county
sindikat  (m.)	union
povećanje  (n.)	increase
uvjet  (m.)	condition
smanjiti	reduce
planirati	planned

Read the full story

On Tuesday, a strike in the education sector began across four Dalmatian counties in Croatia. The action covers primary and secondary schools, as well as universities in the regions of Splitsko-dalmatinska, Zadarska, Šibensko-kninska, and Dubrovačko-neretvanska. Organised by three major education unions, this strike marks the first of five planned circular strikes to take place over the coming weeks.

Representatives from the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees, the Independent Science and Higher Education Union, and the Preporod School Union are driving this initiative. They have voiced their dissatisfaction over current pay scales and working conditions, calling for a 10% salary increase and a reassessment of salary coefficients. The unions also seek the introduction of an additional teaching allowance and a year-long postponement of proposed educational reforms in vocational schools.

The unions have expressed concerns over the government’s response, stating that previous attempts, such as petitions and warning strikes, have failed to yield results. According to Željko Stipić of the Preporod School Union, the government has ignored their demands, prompting the need for expanded industrial action.

Government officials have responded by maintaining that the education reform plans will proceed. They have stipulated that wages will be reduced for strike days, a decision that has intensified tensions. The Ministry of Science and Education has been tasked with informing institutions about these deductions.

Matija Kroflin from the Independent Science and Higher Education Union emphasised that the strike is not intended to harm educational outcomes but to highlight inadequate working conditions and remuneration for teachers. Meanwhile, Zrinko Turalija from the Union of Secondary School Employees underscored that educators’ wages are insufficient to attract and retain talent, a critical concern for the sustainability of the education system.

Following this initial strike in Dalmatia, the scheduled strikes will move regionally across Croatia. Further action is planned for various other regions, concluding with a significant walkout in Zagreb and its surrounding counties. By highlighting these issues, the unions are urging for reforms they deem essential for improving the education system’s quality and acknowledging teachers’ contributions.

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