Education minister refuses talks with Union of Teachers

Education Minister István Hiller has refused to negotiate with the Democratic Union of Teachers (PDSZ) as "neither the cabinet nor my ministry has the competence to deal with the matter." PDSZ threatened a strike after Parliament's recent amendment to the public education act, under which teachers are required to work two hours above the existing compulsory teaching hours as of the autumn.

In a letter to the union, Hiller said the act on strikes stipulates consultations between employer and employees, and teachers are employed by school principals rather than by the Education and Culture Ministry.

PDSZ chairman Gábor Kerpen responded that the union will shortly come to a decision on taking legal action, but added that Hiller refused to talk to the union "despite the cabinet designating the education ministry as a negotiating partner for teachers."

The Union of Teachers, which has more than 100,000 members and is said to be closely linked to the Socialist Party, has not formed a strike committee nor has it sought talks with Hiller. The union recently said it will examine the relevant legal regulations and will turn to the Constitutional Court and organise action if necessary.

The above story is just one of more than two dozen published today by Hungary Around the Clock, the most comprehensive source of daily English-language news about Hungary. For a free trial of HATC, click here. Hungarian news sources include Népszabadság; Magyar Hírlap; Világgazdaság; Napi Gazdaság; Magyar Nemzet; Népszava; Kossuth Rádió news and Hungarian television's nightly news broadcast.

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