Strikes at the Beestenmarkt: "We'll keep going!"
No teaching today, but campaigning at the Beestenmarkt in Deventer. That was what the Gelderland and Overijssel teachers from primary education did. “Friends of mine said, 'You volunteer?' You've been doing that all day at school anyway. ”
Picture: Fred van Diem
Just take an 'angry selfie'. Christel ten Vergert and her colleague Andrea Roberts put their angry face in front of their camera towards the end of the event and then with the hashtag #christmas to hurl into the world, as just asked from the podium. “Yes, we are angry,” says Ten Vergert. She works at Het Meerik in Enschede, a school for special secondary education. “We have undergone a reorganization. We do the same work with far fewer colleagues. And the problems of the students have become more serious. ”
We have gone through a reorganization. We do the same work with far fewer colleagues.
At the Beestenmarkt in Deventer, thousands of teachers campaigned for a better salary and actually still for less work pressure, despite the previously concluded workload agreement. They took over from colleagues from the south of the Netherlands, who went on strike last month. The square fills up from half past ten. Some sports enthusiasts arrive running or arrive by racing bicycle. The square is green in no time: the green hats are doing well and are eagerly sought after. Just like the bandanas and the water bottles, because of the warmth. Children taken with them can enjoy themselves on the assault course next to the square.
Picture: Fred van Diem
Compliments
Girls with a big red bow hand out cards with compliments to the teachers. A teacher passes by with a modest sign in his hand. "I'm on strike, but can't afford a bigger plate," it says. Jolanda Hendriks, group 3 teacher at De Mare in Almelo, has a green balloon around her waist with an angry smiley on it. “Salary is now the first point for me. At my school we have recently made good agreements to reduce the workload. ” Her colleague Martine Veldman nods and says: "The minister must come over for the salary." The colleagues are in the lowest salary scale LA. Hendriks: “It's not fair if you compare it with secondary education, but we are also lagging behind with regard to healthcare and the police. Moreover: the companies are already benefiting, why not us? "
The salary is not fair if you compare it with secondary education, but we are also lagging behind in relation to healthcare and the police.
Meanwhile, on stage, the ladies of Theaterzaken are calling on all strikers to get moving. “We have our own didactics”, they proclaim. “Turn to the trees and raise your hand. And tell your colleague: how nice that you are here. ” The strikers in the square turn a quarter turn. “So, we have implemented that well,” says the presenter satisfied.
Picture: Fred van Diem
Willingness to take action
It gets serious when the representatives of the PO front, who organize the relay strikes, speak. Jan van de Ven, of PO in Actie, does not feel that the willingness to take action is diminishing. “It's bigger than ever before. Close the schools until it is arranged. ” AObdriver Eugenie Stolk says it is far from finished. “We will continue until the cabinet crosses the bridge. First with the next relay strike in South Holland and Zeeland after the summer holidays. If nothing happens with Prinsjesdag, we will continue more intensively. We must be recognized. ”
Ernestine Kersbergen is a kindergarten teacher. She is not in class today, but at a standing table just before the program starts. Her school De Cantharel in Ermelo is closed. “For the children, that's what I do it for. I've had the same salary for 34 years. My business friends are making a dent. Especially when I said I might still want to do volunteer work. They said: you have been doing that all day at school. ” According to Kersbergen, the profession is still seen too much as a calling. "Overtime is not seen as overtime, but as involvement."
Overtime is not seen as overtime, but as involvement.
Picture: Fred van Diem
Although the strike is now mainly about salary, many retaliators also strike for the workload. Marcel, who teaches a combination group 7-8 in Voorthuizen, calls the money that the cabinet is spending 'a drop in the ocean'. He wants to continue with the strikes if necessary. "If you start something, you have to continue."
That is also what Ten Vergert from VSO says. “Above all, it must remain visible, our strikes. That's why I came here too. As far as I am concerned, we go on strike every month, but nationally. Let's expand it. It may be difficult for parents, but sending classes home because there is no teacher is much more annoying. ”
