Africa-Press – Cape verde. The three teachers’ unions held a meeting this Monday, 4th, in Praia with the President of the Republic José Maria Neves, who asked them to consider, but the unionists should meet later this week to outline new struggles.
Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, the president of the National Union of Teachers (Sindep), Jorge Cardoso, said that the Head of State demonstrated that he is “ sensitive ” to the demands of the teaching class and advised them to consider, but, he stressed, the “ fight” will continue.
“ The advice you left is worth considering. He said he will coordinate, he will exert his influence with the Government to meet the teachers’ demands ”, said the union leader, stressing that these actions have nothing to do with politics or the imminent elections.
“ Teachers are tired and we, as legitimate representatives of teachers, will be available to support them until the last consequences ”, highlighted Jorge Cardoso, who pointed to the call for a next strike while the other unions talk about getting together to make things better .
“From the 15th we will announce a strike, until the end of the month, so that there are no evaluations because the Government doesn’t want to know. We know that in December, perhaps, it will have no impact, but at the end of the academic year we will again be willing to legitimize teachers not to carry out assessments ”, he stated.
In turn, the president of the Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sindprof), Lígia Herbert, expressed her satisfaction after the meeting, believing that this situation will take a different direction and that it will be possible to reach an understanding between the Government and the unions.
“ We believe that the Head of State is an ally of all workers in Cape Verde and we also believe that he is our ally in the demands when they are fair and legitimate ”, he said, emphasizing that they are also awaiting a public position from the President himself of the Republic.
Regarding the possible strike, he said that it is necessary to think carefully, due to the students, noting that the next forms of struggle will be decided in consultation with the three unions that will meet later this week.
“ ‘A posteriori’ we will say exactly what is going to be done and how it is going to be done, but everything is based on consideration and legality ”, maintained Lígia Herbert.
“ We will do all possible forms of struggle so that the class is dignified ”, said the union member, not ruling out the possibility of freezing grades.
In turn, the president of the Santiago Teachers’ Union (Siprofis), Abraão Borges, said that he was satisfied with the meeting with the Head of State, because certain technical terms that the unions were not in a position to interpret were clarified.
“ For example, in relation to the special framework that we mentioned, a lot of it has to do more with the issue of the private framework that we are rather than a special framework, so in this area we have a lot of things to consider and analyze at the moment. Another example, we are coming out of a strike in which we are waiting for the counter-proposal to analyze it and see what path we will take in the future ”, he indicated.
According to Abraão Borges, there are other points that must still be analyzed again to see to what extent the unions must give in or move towards new forms of struggle.
“ The points we are demanding must be resolved as quickly as possible and we will analyze it, because the Government has not yet given us any counter-proposal in relation to the salary, so, as soon as we receive a counter-proposal in relation to the salary, if we do not satisfied, we will outline new struggles in a more muscular way ”, declared the union leader.
Finally, he agreed that if there is no consensus between the Government and the unions, the latter will analyze the best path forward, highlighting that freezing banknotes is one of the “ weapons ” to be used, but all within the legality.
In addition to resolving pending issues, the teachers’ biggest demand has to do with a salary update of around 36 percent, increasing the entry salary from the current 78 thousand escudos to 107,471$00, in order to equate teachers’ salaries to the other private staff of Cape Verdean public administration.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
