Leaders of the Union of Education Workers of Guatemala (Steg) remain firm in their opposition to the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC); Now, they point out that support and free programs are at risk.
Last Thursday, in Tejutla and yesterday in Comitancillo, San Marcos, the Steg leadership spoke and asked the parents understanding and support for the fight they carry out.
They indicated that the measures they have taken are not only to claim the magisterial guild, but also to maintain support programs, which will pass to Oenegés and no longer for parents.
Steg affiliates are, since May 19, in permanent assembly, so classes are suspended and closed schools.
Orlenda Sánchez, municipal secretary of the union, indicated that The actions are for the benefit of the educational community, and mainly of the childrenS, because the intention of the Ministry of Education is to eliminate the support programs that were achieved thanks to the union struggle.
“We had not seen, in some time, a struggle where the government began to tremble the teaching or other organizations, adducing sanctions for claiming a right, which goes in favor not only of the teaching, but also of all students,” said Sánchez.
Sanchez mentioned that they remain in permanent assembly due to the lack of negotiation of the collective pact of working conditions of the teaching.
It should be remembered that the authorities of the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) announced a 5% salary increase for teachers, a decision adopted unilaterally, while Steg requires an increase of 15%.
The MINEDUC authorities have indicated that classes interruption is “an illegal action” and that the Ministry is obliged to take disciplinary measures as established by law. In that sense, minutes would be raised to absent teachers, which represents a warning.
It was reported that the process of verification of the absences is carried out, to establish whether the teachers have any permission or if the abandonment of the classrooms was for a justified cause, This prior to lifting an act.
Attribution of achievements
Sanchez pointed out that the teaching has achieved several benefits for both students and teachers, including the creation of calls for the transfer of contract workers to permanent places. In addition, he mentioned the support programs, the opposition to the privatization of education and the implementation of the school medical insurance, which was replaced by the school health program.
On the other hand, They demand that the school food program increase to Q10 and that is complemented with a glass of milk for each child. They also demand that students are provided with uniform and footwear.
“A battle scenario begins where parents should recognize the struggles of the teaching; parents, we invite them to take our hand and together we walk and fight for the right that our students assist by law,” said the Municipal Secretary of the Steg in Tejutla, San Marcos.
Protection
Alfonzo López, legal advisor of the union in San Marcos, indicated that the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) tries to intimidate and affect the teachers psychologically, so that an amparo was presented against the Departmental Director of Education, with the aim that teachers have the freedom to manifest peacefully and exercise their right of association.
“We are not in a process of illegality; on the contrary, there is freedom of locomotion, of thought,” said López.
During the conference, the central government was made, the Minister of Education, Anabella Giracca, to meet the union demands, since, they pointed out, it depends on the permanent assembly to come to an end.