Unionists from the region support education workers in Sarajevo: Ban on protests is a restriction of democracy, there will be consequences

(Patria) - The Cantonal Board of the Union of Primary Education and Upbringing held a press conference today, joined by numerous unionists from BiH, the region, and Turkey to show their support after the MUP KS, i.e., the Police Administration of the MUP KS, at the behest of the authorities, banned the holding of a protest by education workers titled "We demand education tailored to students and their teachers."

Union President Saudin Sivro stated that the Union will continue to act in the interest of over 4,000 workers in the Sarajevo Canton. He reminded that the protest gathering was announced to the police as early as April 26, 2024, i.e., 18 days before the gathering was to take place.

"14 days after the announcement, the police issued a decision banning the protests. Our union has held numerous protests so far, at which not a single incident was recorded, and it is unclear why this, above all, undemocratic decision was made. We, as individuals who respect this state and its laws, complied with the police decision and continue our struggle through other means for education that is tailored to students and their teachers, the kind our children deserve. That is our task, and we will never give up on it. What concerns us as citizens is whether the Government of Sarajevo Canton only declaratively advocates for democracy and whether we are becoming a society in which public expression of disagreement or dissatisfaction is banned?! This ban is definitely not a good message we are sending as a society striving for European integration, and it will have a long-term negative impact not only in our country but also in the region, from where numerous colleagues came today to support our demands," said Sivro.

Earlier protests were supposed to be held on February 12, when the Union received a promise and firm commitment that social dialogue with the Union would be conducted and that the rights of workers in education would be improved.

"After that, we wrote and requested dialogue and agreement. They broke their promise, and at the proposal and insistence of the Minister of Education, on March 5, at a telephone session, they adopted the Pedagogical Standards despite the clearly expressed oral and written position that certain items from the then-valid Standards should remain unchanged, while simultaneously not accepting proposals and suggestions on the proposed text of the Standards. The abolition of the provision from the valid Standards and norms, which clearly stated that a teaching class lasts 45 minutes and in a 40-hour work week was counted as 60 minutes, is scandalous. No one has ever done that. It is an achievement in education and an acquired right before our Union was founded. It is a matter of dignity and recognition for our profession. It is evident that the volume of administrative work in education is increasing and that teachers are becoming scribes. We will highlight just some of the items they abolished in the Pedagogical Standards: 1. 1 to 3 hours within the work week for reviewing written assignments and program-planned tests and graphic works 2. Payment for cooperation with parents, work on pedagogical documentation as separate and clearly normed items within the work week 3. They completely abolished payment for the implementation of three or more subject teaching programs and preparations for conducting field teaching within the work week 4. They completely abolished the reduction of the norm for homeroom teachers by 1 teaching class instead of increasing the reduction to 3 or 4 teaching classes," said Sivro.

At the beginning of January, 2,411 workers in primary schools expressed with their signatures that sections 5.3. and 5.4. of the Pedagogical Standards and norms should not be deleted and that all acquired rights that teachers have in the valid Standards, acquired during 2018, should be retained.

"They threw thousands of workers' objections in January into the trash can. They went so far as to make social workers employed a year and a half ago redundant, increased the scope of work for school secretaries and many other workers, especially technical staff. For months, we have been talking about their illegalities, the damage they cause to everyone, the catastrophic changes they have introduced, and they avoid social dialogue, not respecting the opinion of about 5,000 workers. They try to discredit us in public and talk about our salaries. They exert daily pressure on us, illegally reduce our salaries, threaten us, and simply put – they are destroying both us and the generations to come," said Sivro.

At today's press conference, unionists from the region who wanted to attend the protest also spoke, but now came to show support because the protests were banned.

Radomir Božović, President of the Union of Education Workers of Montenegro, said that education workers on the street show that something is wrong with the education system.

"Education workers are the cream of a society, and when you try to suppress education workers, I see it as repression. The Government and the Ministry must cooperate with the Union. I feel a certain disappointment due to the restriction of democracy and freedom of opinion. Our rulers simply cannot understand that only a satisfied and motivated education worker can contribute to the development of this country. An unsatisfied and burdened education worker cannot dedicate themselves to the classroom and produces average citizens. Repression against education workers has never brought anything good to anyone," said Božović.

Edina Čomić, President of the Union of Secondary and Higher Education, Upbringing and Science of BiH, asked whether education workers are a threat to the children of those who banned the holding of the gathering.

"I don't recall a protest being banned anywhere, especially not one of education workers. For the authorities, we are just consumers, and they show that with their gestures, adopting pedagogical standards without asking us anything. They think someone else knows better how to create an act concerning our status. In this entire region, we are fighting for better education and a fairer society. We came as support and stand behind our colleagues from Sarajevo Canton. What is happening to them today will happen to all of us. We must raise our voices against the injustice that has befallen them," said Čomić.

Sandra Kimovec spoke on behalf of the Union of Croatian Teachers.

"We are appalled by the fact that the MUP banned the protest. A protest of education workers is not a protest of hooligans and is not a disturbance of public order and peace. These people were supposed to show children what democracy is today. This very ban is a message to children: be silent, endure, and don't make waves. The right to assembly is guaranteed by all conventions. And I wonder how the ECHR will view this ban, and many international organizations will be informed about this shameful ban. Stay persistent in your demands," Kimovec urged.

David Mandić spoke on behalf of the Branch Union of Education Workers of Serbia Nezavisnost.

"In my opinion, the key question is whether there is social dialogue. What kind of social monologue is it when one side speaks and the other does not hear it? Education workers must fight for their rights. Ivo Andrić said that times come when a fool speaks and a wise man falls silent. Our task as teachers and professors is to seek a way out of the dark realm. We feel unity here today. We know how many we are and we know our strength. I express full solidarity; the voice of education will be heard much further. Courageously to the end until all demands are fulfilled," said Mandić.

Stojko Ramov, Vice President of the Independent Union of Education, Science and Culture of the Republic of North Macedonia, said they came to express unreserved support for the Union.

"Social dialogue must be respected and a partnership relationship must exist. Only then can we have education tailored to students and teachers," said Ramov.

Ahmet Gok, Deputy President, spoke on behalf of the Confederation of Unions MEMUR SEN from Turkey.

"We love BiH very much and we want everything to be good. The most important sector in the country is education, because the future of a country is built on education. The most important partner in education are teachers. If there are no teachers, there will be no education. In all decisions regarding education, education workers must be included. The authorities must conduct social dialogue with unions. The demands of the Union of Primary Education and Upbringing of FBiH – Cantonal Board Sarajevo are justified and appropriate, and I believe these demands should be met. Long live teachers, long live education workers, long live our solidarity, long live BiH," said Gok.

Selvedin Šatorović, President of the Union of Independent Unions of BiH and branch president, said in his address that the problem created by Education Minister Naida Hota-Muminović has united all education workers from East to West.

"Everything that colleagues from Sarajevo are going through shows that the Pedagogical Standards were made to cause enormous damage, and I call on parents to raise their voices against such a document. Our children are not guinea pigs for us to fix things on them that have proven to be bad or catastrophic. From here, we send another demand to the Government of Sarajevo Canton, to Prime Minister Nihad Uk, to sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible and see who is right, and I am sure that these 4,000 from Sarajevo Canton, 14,000 from FBiH, and several million from the region are right. The demands of the Cantonal Board are also the demands of the Union of Independent Unions," said Šatorović.

He read out these demands, which were supported by thunderous applause:

1. Annulment of the Pedagogical Standards and norms that have jeopardized the rights of education workers
2. Dismissal of the Minister of Education of Sarajevo Canton, who has jeopardized the rights of education workers
3. Halt of administrative reforms that turn education workers into mere scribes
4. Better regulations, curricula, and textbooks that will be continuously adapted and improved in line with the needs of modern education, and especially the needs of children, students, workers, the labor market, and the latest technologies, with mandatory participation and consideration of the views of workers, employers, and entrepreneurs.

Šatorović said they also expect a reaction from the headquarters in Brussels.

"If these demands are not met, at the beginning of the school year we will have a warning strike throughout FBiH. Children will know that there is a minister who neither respects nor values education workers," said Šatorović.

Sivro said they received an explanation from the MUP KS that holding the protest would endanger security in Sarajevo Canton.

"They waited from April 26 to May 10 to ban the gathering. That was a shock for all these people and those who were supposed to come. This will have far-reaching consequences," said Sivro.