Minister wants deal with striking teachers

Mirko Cvetkovic says that talks must be completed with teachers' unions so that classes can get back to normal. The finance minister said that he had proposed a salary increase for school employees in 2008, amounting to a ten percent payrise for administrative staff and six percent for teachers, which should be in line with the projected inflation rate. Minister wants deal with striking teachers “Besides that, having agreed on the total salaries, we’ve agreed that if that amount allows them to receive more than we are offering, we’d be willing to use all those savings during the year to improve their financial circumstances,” Cvetkovic said. The Finance Ministry sated that teachers' union officials had not shown up at yesterday’s scheduled meeting to discuss wages. “Regardless of the fact that union officials failed to appear at the scheduled meetings, the Education and Finance Ministries are still open for talks,” said the Finance Ministry. The union is expected to decided today whether it will continue negotiations with the government, and under what conditions. The union is expected to reach an agreement on sending an appeal to Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic to join the negotiations. Mirko Cvetkovic (FoNet)

Minister wants deal with striking teachers

“Besides that, having agreed on the total salaries, we’ve agreed that if that amount allows them to receive more than we are offering, we’d be willing to use all those savings during the year to improve their financial circumstances,” Cvetković said.

The Finance Ministry sated that teachers' union officials had not shown up at yesterday’s scheduled meeting to discuss wages.

“Regardless of the fact that union officials failed to appear at the scheduled meetings, the Education and Finance Ministries are still open for talks,” said the Finance Ministry.

The union is expected to decided today whether it will continue negotiations with the government, and under what conditions.

The union is expected to reach an agreement on sending an appeal to Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić to join the negotiations.