School Unions Remain on Strike Alert Until Salary Increases Implemented

Bratislava, March 10 (TASR) - Education Trade Union representatives remain on strike alert until legislative changes are made to ensure salary increases for education workers in line with the demands of the trade union, chairman Pavel Ondek stated after Monday's special session on a new proposal for a memorandum of cooperation and social peace in the education sector. "Matters related to salary increases from September 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, by seven percent for all employees will be included in the memorandum," Ondek stated for TASR. Ondek added that the memorandum also includes the transfer of funding for personnel costs of all education employees to the delegated competencies of municipalities, financed directly from the Education Ministry's budget. Additionally, it includes the creation of a separate pay scale for non-teaching staff in education. Ondek noted that Slovak Towns and Municipalities Association (ZMOS) chairman Jozef Bozik spoke as a guest at the meeting. "He informed about the current positive progress in negotiations with the Finance Ministry regarding the financial resources for the payment of a one-time bonus of €800 in June this year and for the salary increase of education employees funded through local government competencies with a seven percent increase starting from September 1, 2025, and an additional seven percent increase from January 1, 2026," Ondek explained. Ondek told TASR that the memorandum could be signed in April or earlier. He added that discussions are still ongoing regarding the final version. The Education Ministry is proposing to increase salaries for teachers and professional staff by 7 percent as of September 1, 2025 and by an additional 5 percent as of January 1, 2026, along with a new non-tariff system that will raise salaries by an average of 2 percent. The government approved the plan to increase salaries along with the condition of submitting a proposal for financial coverage and of signing a memorandum of cooperation and social reconciliation in the education sector with the Slovak Education and Science Employees Trade Union. lin