Africa-Press – Cape verde. The National Teachers’ Union (SINDEP) expressed its satisfaction this morning with the President of the Republic’s (PR) veto of the Career, Function and Remuneration Plan (PCFR) for teaching staff and warned of the possibility of a strike if the Government does not present a proposal that meets the demands of the class.
At a press conference, the president of SINDEP, Jorge Cardoso, criticized the Government for trying to “impose” the PCFR on teachers, without respecting the specific laws on the teaching career. Jorge Cardoso stated that the Government failed by not inviting the unions to negotiate a specific statute for teachers, opting instead to try to apply a general law for public administration.
“The Government is trying to force teachers to accept a plan that does not fit our reality. There are specific laws for teachers, and that is what we want to be respected. The Basic Law of the Education System, the recommendations of UNESCO and the ILO, which Cape Verde ratified in 1997, are clear: teachers must have their own status,” he declared.
The union leader did not rule out the possibility of a strike if the Government is not willing to negotiate in good faith.
“We are prepared to start a strike next week if the Government continues with this intransigent attitude. This strike could last a long time and will have significant impacts on the start of the school year, scheduled for September 16. Teachers are tired of waiting for recognition that never comes,” warned the president of SINDEP.
“We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We want what is owed to us. Teachers are fundamental to the country’s development and deserve a status that reflects this importance. We will not accept impositions. We want dialogue, but true dialogue without arrogance,” stressed Jorge Cardoso.
During the conference, Jorge Cardoso accused the Government of devaluing the teaching profession by trying to include it in the PCFR, ignoring the special status that regulates the profession.
“Teachers are a special class, with unique responsibilities in the training of future generations. Other professions, such as doctors and nurses, have their own statuses that recognize their particularities. I ask the Government: why are teachers treated differently?” he asked.
This representative also criticized the Government’s statement, which asked the President of the Republic to reconsider the veto of the PCFR. For the president of SINDEP, this attitude shows a lack of commitment to dialogue and an attempt to weaken teachers’ rights. Jorge Cardoso called on the Government to review its stance and open itself up to a constructive and respectful dialogue.
“The Government, instead of trying to understand our demands, is pushing an agenda that devalues our profession. The real coup is not from the President of the Republic, but from the Government against teachers and all professional classes with special status. We, teachers, want to be part of the solution, not the problem. But for that to happen, the Government must be willing to listen to us and recognize the specific nature of our career. If the Government continues with this arrogance, we will have to use our last resort, which is a strike,” he concluded.
The threat of a strike and the presidential veto put pressure on the Government to find a solution that meets the expectations of teachers and avoids a prolonged conflict in the education sector.
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