'Immediately use 460 million for better conditions in schools'
A cabinet that always stood firm, stuck to the coalition agreement and did not want to make additional investments in education, has offered 460 million euros. That offer has the AOb accepted. "But", says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen. "I understand that there is also a lot of frustration with our members." For the AOb the covenant is a first step towards structural solutions.
image: Fred van Diem
It turned out that campaigning works yesterday when the cabinet promised an additional investment of 460 million euros. An unexpected turn in an action process that has lasted for years. Before the summer, the joint unions and employers lodged an emergency claim of 423,5 million euros with the cabinet. That money had to come to guarantee good education for our children. To reduce the workload, close the pay gap between primary and secondary education and make the teaching profession more attractive. Teachers in special education would be better rewarded, as would staff in schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
For years we have heard from the minister: Not a penny will be added
Liesbeth Verheggen: “For years we heard from the minister: Not a cent will be added. Especially the AOb did not agree and took a lot of action, the teachers themselves exerted great pressure on politics. This has led to a meeting with the Prime Minister, who has acknowledged that there is a social problem. This recognition has resulted in the offer of 460 million euros. We must now take that offer, we must immediately translate it into better conditions for our people at the schools. ” As the AOb the covenant that was signed yesterday by Minister of Education Arie Slob, the employers and the joint unions, had not signed, the negotiators would not have been welcome at the collective labor agreement where the money is distributed.
I think we should take the time to also look at where we came from. What has been achieved
The covenant includes 16,5 million euros structurally for extra salary for teachers in secondary special education. The remaining 443,5 million committed is incidental money. While the AOb goes for structural solutions to reduce the workload in primary and secondary education and to raise salaries. “I understand that there is a lot of frustration among our members. I think we should take the time to also see where we came from. What has been achieved ”, says Verheggen. "And at the same time we say that the new cabinet must come up with structural solutions."
Pay gap
A first step has now been taken. “With this money we can improve the collective labor agreements and we will then start with the collective labor agreement for primary education. Thanks to this covenant, the current offer of the employer organization PO council can be increased. We are now getting round the table like lightning to make good agreements for a new collective labor agreement that will further reduce the pay gap with secondary education.
We came from 0 euros and now have 460 million
Meanwhile, the AOb putting pressure on politics. "We will ensure that political parties commit to structural solutions." On social media, the AOb accused of a weak attitude. Because with the signing of the covenant, the legal ground to declare the strike has lapsed. The strike call for November 6 has been withdrawn, the strike fund has been closed. Verheggen: “It doesn't improve me a cent. We have a strike fund that we use when we achieve results. We came from 0 euros and now have 460 million. There is now nothing to be gained if we open the strike coffers. But I understand the frustration, the willingness to take action was high. The willingness to take action, the pressure exerted by the teachers themselves, have had an effect. ” In the coming days, the executive board will be accountable to the central board, the sector councils and the general meeting of the AOb.
