EI to help solve labour conflict in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
As the labour conflict in the country’s education sector escalates, ETUCE, Education International’s European Region, aims to bring the parties back to the negotiation table after months of a sluggish social dialogue, which came to a complete standstill at the end of the year.
ETUCE Director Martin Rømer will travel to Skopje next week to express its solidarity with the 25,000 unionised teachers of its national affiliate. Rømer‘s aim is to relaunch the negotiation process between SONK, the Trade Union for Education, Science and Culture, and the government.
Jakim Nedelkov, head of SONK, explains that over the past months industrial relations in the education sector have become increasingly difficult. The contested issues include pay rise and the rejection of the fines imposed on teachers whose pupils fail at external assessment tests. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has apparently explicitly threatened to replace striking teachers.
The conflict represents a paradox between the government’s actions and its international commitments: social dialogue in the country has been declared as one of the key elements for the country’s democratic and economic development, and the government is currently implementing an extensive EU funded project on social dialogue. But at the same time, the social partners in education have been heading into a dead end with their dialogue.
Negotiations have been unsuccessful and led the union to call for a strike despite all concerns about the consequences labour actions would have on teachers, pupils and parents. SONK has reported about growing oppressive reactions against the demonstrating teachers, although the right to strike is a fundamental human right recognised by the European Social Charter, which is binding for the country.
During his stay in Skopje, Martin Rømer will meet with the Head of the EU Delegation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He has also asked for meetings with the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Labour and Social Policy to consult on possible ways for a complete reversal of this serious and unsustainable situation, which may threaten quality education and impact all other economic sectors.
