'Rutte's condition for extra education money is pure blackmail'
“You let the king say that the teacher shortage is a dire problem, and then you throw that problem over the fence at the employers and employees. That is pure blackmail. ” That's the response of AObChairman Liesbeth Verheggen on Prime Minister Rutte's statement that primary education should first conclude a collective labor agreement.
In the Budget Memorandum not a cent extra released for improving salaries and for reducing the workload in education. During today's general considerations, the SP, GroenLinks and the PvdA asked Prime Minister Rutte whether he was prepared to adjust the profit tax so that there would be more money for wages in the public sector - including education.
Vague promises, without structurally spending even one euro to combat the teacher shortage
The prime minister was not willing to do that. According to him, the cabinet is willing to see whether extra money can go to the teachers next year, but then primary education must first conclude a new collective labor agreement.
Workload
Collective bargaining in primary education however, lie still because there is not enough money available for a decent salary increase. The unions and employers in primary and secondary education already asked together before the summer vacation an emergency kit of 423,5 million euros to Minister Slob, to tackle the acute staff shortage and the high workload in education.
Transparent
Prime Minister Rutte's comment today is pure blackmail. And a transparent trick to divert attention and make vague promises, without structurally spending even one euro to combat the teacher shortage ”, says AOb-chairman Liesbeth Verheggen. “The prime minister is now ignoring the call of employers and employees - including the 40 strikers who were on the Malieveld on March 15.”
