The Polish Teacher’s Union (ZNP) will stage a demonstration in Warsaw, Friday, demanding pay rises, retaining beneficial retirement rights and dropping the idea of introducing education vouchers.

The teachers also are demanding that the government give up their plans to decentralise the system of teachers salaries.

The trade union representatives are demanding a pay rise to the tune of 600 zlotys for internship teachers and 1100 zlotys for fully qualified teachers.

Head of the PM’s political cabinet Sławomir Nowak told Polish Radio One this morning that the teachers’ pay rise proposed by the Minister of Education Katarzyna Hall is a maximum of what could be found in this year’s budget.

The MP reminded that at the last moment the government has managed to find over 2 billions zlotys for the teachers’ pay rises.

“This is the biggest increase since 2003,” Nowak said.

He agreed that the public sector has been underfunded for years. (jm)