Ei-iE

EI national affiliates UNSA Education (National Union of Independent Trade Unions-Education) and SNUipp-FSU (Single National Union of Primary, Middle and Secondary School Teachers) have reacted to French Education Minister Vincent Peillon’s memorandum of agreement containing category-specific measures for primary education personnel.

This memorandum of agreement should establish a negotiated allocation within a budget of €62 billion. Each year’s budget includes jobs and salary increases for €90 million. One portion of these increases will be applied automatically,the other is to be negotiated.

The four-page memorandum sets out the Minister’s agenda and asks for the unions’ support, stating that “these measures will be adopted in April-May”, before the Government and the trade unions engage in discussions on the profession in September.

The paper sets three priority categories: the lowest-paid staff in national education, primary school teachers, and school health services.

Since 1999, secondary school teachers have received a €900 annual pupil-monitoring and guidance allowance. The Minister has repeatedly given his public backing for this to be extended to primary school teachers. The memorandum officially enshrines “the creation of an allowance for primary school teachers in acknowledgement of the pupil-monitoring and guidance duties they perform”.

If the unions sign this memorandum, a first payment could be made in December and another in spring 2014.

UNSA Education: Moving in the right direction

UNSA Education General Secretary Lawrence Escure has welcomed the solid, positive prospects finally opening up.

He stressed that “UNSA Education’s two priorities feature high in this document. Improvements in the condition of low-ranked staff and, more broadly, all low-paid personnel, are fair and correct, and mirror what we wanted. We were also requesting measures to bring equity into teaching: introduction of an allowance for primary teachers, increased access to senior posts foreducation personnel school leaders, and improving conditions for contract staff are moves in that direction.”

The memorandum leaves some issues pending, but it does acknowledge the education professionals’ commitment, commented Escure.

UNSA Education will sign the memorandum of agreement and work with its member unions to get the measures implemented. “We will keep pushing for this new agreement adopted using social dialogue  to become reality for education personnel,” said Escure.

SNUipp-FSU: Will negotiate on teachers’ status

The SNUipp has taken note of the Minister’s proposal to finally open discussions on the need to upgrade primary teachers’ status. SNUipp FSU General Secretary Sebastian Sihr welcomed the introduction of an allowance for certain activities, such as teachers getting involved in projects or meeting pupils and their families outside working hours.

But the memorandum is also about improving career development and bringing it into line with secondary school teachers, emphasised Sihr.

“We see our views reflected in the proposals, which were wanted and needed. The question we have is: Are we meant to sign up to it before negotiating on it?”

SNUipp has a remit to negotiate with the Minister and will be at the table, he went on.

“Our representative capacity gives us the right to be at the table,” said Sihr. “We will try to push the advances as far as possible to meet primary teachers’ expectations.”

EI: Social Dialogue vital to improve teachers’ status and education quality

EI welcomes the French Government’s stated commitment to negotiate with the unions and upgrade the teaching profession. “Good working conditions and decent pay for teachers are a big part of providing quality education for all,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

The full memorandum (in French) is here