The Deputy Secretary of State and Education considered that the union that held a sit-in during today’s meetings did not demonstrate good faith and reiterated that it does not negotiate under pressure. “The Government’s position is not to negotiate under pressure and, in this case, we felt that there was a pressure factor that harmed the work and that did not meet the conditions for us to hold our meeting”explained Alexandre Homem Cristo to journalists, at the end of the negotiating round.
The Union of All Education Professionals (Stop) did not participate in the negotiating meeting, after the Government warned that it would not accept receiving the union while the protest was taking place, an ultimatum that the teachers refused. Stop, which should have participated in the first of four meetings scheduled for today with the government, was prevented from being present at the meeting due to the fact that a plenary session with concentration took place simultaneously.with a few dozen teachers, in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, in Lisbon.
Informed by the Secretary of State that they would only be allowed to participate in the negotiations if they interrupted the protest, the Stop leaders decided, after listening to the protesters, to maintain their concentration and not participate in the meeting. Asked about the decision, Alexandre Homem Cristo explained that, in the Government’s opinion, the concentrated plenary represented a form of pressure while work was taking place and a demonstration that that union was not participating in negotiations “in good faith”.
“We felt that, with the attitude of hindering the conduct of the work, with the noise and constant noise, in order to create some type of disturbance in the organization of our meeting, these criteria of good faith were not met”, continued the government official. Reiterating that the executive does not accept negotiating under pressure, the Secretary of State added that, despite not having participated in today’s meeting, Stop is not excluded from the process and will receive, like the other unions, the Government’s most recent proposal, but left a note for the future.
“Whenever there is any disturbance that involves harming working conditions for a negotiation meeting, there cannot be a negotiation meeting. The point is this”, he stated. Following the episode, the National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) refused to meet with the Government today on the status of the teaching career, considering the executive’s decision “absolutely unacceptable”.
“This matter, for us, is serious enough to be included on the agenda”explained Francisco Gonçalves, general secretary of Fenprof, in statements to journalists. Of the 11 teachers’ union organizations, in addition to Stop, called to negotiate the review of the teaching career statute, Fenprof was the only one that refused to meet in protest against the executive’s position.
The general secretary of the National Education Federation (FNE), Pedro Barreiros, expressed only astonishment at the episode and defended a collective reflection on what had happened, and Júlia Azevedo, from the Independent Union of Teachers and Educators (SIPE) admitted that she did not understand the reasons for Stop’s protest, stressing, even so, they have the legitimacy to do so and should not, therefore, suffer any retaliation.
Negotiations
The Government intends to introduce, with some changes, a mechanism that is already in force in the context of extraordinary external competitions, but without a legal framework, and which allows teachers without professional qualifications to join the Ministry of Education staff on a conditional basis until completion, within four yearsprofessionalization in service.
The proposal under discussion provides “exceptionally a transitional situation” with the conclusion of fixed-term contracts of up to three years until obtaining pedagogical training, which will determine the conversion of the contract to a contract for an indefinite period.
However, the lack of places in in-service professionalization courses worries unions, who are asking for guarantees that teachers will not be harmed if they are unable to obtain professional qualifications due to lack of space. “We argue that only the proven responsibility of the teacher can determine the expiration of the contract and the termination of duties at the end of the active year”highlighted the general secretary of the National Education Federation (FNE).
Pedro Barreiros explained that, in response to the federation’s proposal, the Government pointed out a legal impediment for this standard to be reflected in the ECD, but assured that the offer will be reinforced so that the problem does not arise. “Although we believe in the good faith of the Ministry of Education, today this is the Ministry, this is the Government, but tomorrow there will be a fall of the Government and what is not written down does not guarantee us anything”warned the union leader.
Compared to the initial proposal, discussed two weeks ago, the executive also introduces the exemption from the trial period for teachers with at least 730 days of service. Júlia Azevedo praised the guarantee of professional qualifications as the only classification criterion, but considered the proposal regarding the probationary period insufficient.
Following Monday’s meeting, the Government will send a new proposal to trade union organizations. If accepted by teacher representatives, the ECD review will continue with the discussion of other matters.
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