The preview of the federal university march Next Wednesday, October 2, will be marked in the provinces by a series of protests with which primary and secondary teaching unions seek to recover the purchasing power of their salaries. In addition, it was anticipated that in several capitals in the interior there will be mobilizations to accompany the university claim and against educational defunding. The scenarios occur in Jujuy, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, Córdoba and Río Negro.
The settlement of September salaries with a 4% increase aroused discomfort in the majority of the unions that bring together the state workers of Jujuy. They point out that the increase was without consultation, does not have the support of the centrals and occurs while the lack of responses from the government chaired by the radical Raúl Sadir to the reopening of the joint ventures persists. For this reason, the majority teaching union, the Association of Provincial Educators (ADEP) decided in its last assembly of delegates to go on strike on October 2 and 3, to participate in the national demand and persist in their own. “It was an unsatisfactory and very poor decision,” said Silvia Vélez, the general secretary.
In the same direction, from the Middle and Higher Education Teachers Center (CEDEMS)also from Jujuy, its general secretary, Mercedes Sosa, reported that secondary teaching will go on strike and mobilization next Wednesday the 2nd. In dialogue with Ámbito, the leader maintained that the increase “is meager and insufficient” and that “it is in accordance with the times of adjustment of the presidency of Javier Milei because there is a correlation between the national and provincial governments. The teacher explained that ““In Jujuy, salaries have been repressed since the government of former provincial chief Gerardo Morales onwards and there is continuity with Carlos Sadir.”. He revealed that the 4% salary increase represents about $22,000 for a teacher without seniority and with 15 hours of teaching; and for one with 36 hours, plus 30 years of service, about $55,000. “Nothing itself,” he said.
Problems for Frigerio
The Entre Ríos Teachers’ Union Association (Agmer) He carried out a strike on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, in rejection of the new salary offer of the government he heads Rogelio Frigerio (PRO), announced by the provincial head himself in a press conference. The most important demonstration was in Gualeguaychú, this Thursday, where Frigerio went for an official activity. An important security device prevented the teachers who participated from approaching the official delegation.
“What we demand is dignity, not only for the salary for teachers, but also for the conditions in which students are in schools. “The buildings are falling apart, we are demanding public education.”said the general secretary of Agmer, in Gualeguaychú, Natalia Zucol. He anticipated that the claims will continue on October 1, 2 and 3. On the first day there will be a march in Paraná, an important commission will travel to Buenos Aires on the second day to accompany the demand of the university teachers; and the location of a new mobilization for the third day is being defined.
In his announcement, Frigerio reported that the National Teacher Incentive Fund (FONID) and the Connectivity item for teachers will be restored with provincial resources. “We are going to make up the agreed salary arrears, with 6.55% remuneration for the next three months. We are going to maintain the hedge against inflation. There will be a month-by-month update according to the Consumer Price Index, as we have been doing since June,” he stated. Despite these announcements, next week the teacher force measures will continue.
No agreement in La Pampa
In La Pampa, the last joint meeting between provincial officials and the teaching unions failed, so the Union of Education Workers (UTELPA) He insisted that the salary floor be higher than the poverty line and demanded a bonus of $100,000 for Connectivity. The provincial joint members indicated that the increase due to inflation is in force, of the order of 1.06%, plus 1.04% added by the government, which totals 2.10%, to compensate for the discount for social work.
UTELPA spokesperson Claudia Calderón explained that these percentages are insufficient for a total basic basket of $750,000 for a family of three and $940,000 when there are four. “The teacher salary does not reach $600,000 pesos”He pointed out and demanded that there be an offer before October 4, the day on which there will be a provincial congress where forceful measures would be defined.
March in Córdoba
The Union of Educators of the Province of Córdoba (UEPC) reported that this majority union will participate in the federal university march on October 2, which includes a 24-hour strike. “We are going to participate and take action with a day of protest,” said Roberto Cristalli, general secretary. “It is clear that there is a total defunding of the educational system. It is confirmed that there will be no national parity; there will be no FONID; nor training; the Conectar Igualdad Plan disappears; student scholarships, plans and programs disappear and the investment for technical education,” argued the leader to explain the adhesion of that center.
Essentiality advanced in Río Negro
The Legislature of Río Negro approved this Thursday, in the first round and by majority, the bill that declares compulsory education as an essential strategic service. The initiative advanced with 35 votes in favor and 11 against, with the PRO blocks backup -except for Patricia Mac Kidd, against-, Together We Are Río Negro, the CC-ARI, Primero Río Negro and the UCR. The blocks of Peronist origin, Vamos con Todos and PJ-NE, opposed it.
The project establishes that in the event of a forceful measure, each establishment must guarantee that 30% of its teaching and non-teaching staff continue working. The percentage rises to 50%, in the event that the strike extends for more than two consecutive days.. While the project was being discussed, there was a demonstration by the teaching unions.
Source: Ambito
