Ei-iE

UNSA Education, one of EI’s affiliates in France, has – for the third year in a row – published a study examining the current preoccupations of members of the education workforce in the country.

Based on a survey that got 21,200 responses and was addressed at all professionals working in education, the so-called UNSA Barometer highlights some of the problems current education employees experience.

82% of the respondents deplore that their remuneration does not reflect their qualifications and 59% cite dwindling purchasing power as problematic – perhaps not surprising in a country where public service salaries (and thus the salaries of the majority of education employees) have been frozen for the last five years.

Other points highlighted by the survey’s respondents were the lack of career development opportunities (45%) and the high workload (40%).

However, the researchers also note that the overall outlook of teachers and education support personnel seems to get better. Compared to 2013, when 59% of respondents had negative feelings about the future of their profession, and to 2014, when they were 48%, this year, only 43% had the same feelings.

“This study is an important tool for us, given the upcoming negotiations with the government,” said Laurent Escure, UNSA General Secretary and recently re-elected EI Executive Board member. “It shows what the points are that we need to pay special attention to – but it also shows that our strategy of positive, reform-oriented and demanding unionism is working.”