Pamplona (EFE).- Representatives of the LAB, Steilas, CCOO, ELA and UGT unions have denounced this Monday the “blockade and mistreatment” of which they are subjected by the Department of Education and have demanded the dismissal of counselor Carlos Gimeno.
In a joint manifesto read at a press conference, the unions assure that, although they have requested it, they have not yet been able to meet with the president of the Government of Navarra, María Chivite, nor with the counselor Gimeno.
In this regard, they point out that, in a meeting held on May 3 with two general directors, “they made it very clear that they did not intend to address any point on the table of demands and they have prevented us from explaining the proposal for concrete improvements that can be implemented next academic year 2023-24”.
Lowering of ratios to 20 in all levels of Infant
This table of demands is specified in a drop in ratios to 20 at all levels of Early Childhood Education, stability in the workforce, reduction of overload and recovery of purchasing power.
In that meeting, the unions stand out in the manifesto, the Department “argued that the negotiating forums are others”, such as the Educational Pact, in which ELA is not represented.
Likewise, they criticize the “torticous use of the average ratios of the different educational stages by the counselor, when he stated that these ratios are below the union demands.”
Demonstration on May 24 that demand improvements
“Average ratios cannot be used to hide the overcrowding suffered by many urban centers,” they emphasize.
Therefore, they add, “in the face of this blockade and mistreatment” they disapprove of the counselor’s actions and demand his dismissal. “A government that describes itself as progressive cannot keep a person who systematically refuses to negotiate with the representatives of the teaching staff at the head of the Department of Education”, they affirm.
The unions call for these reasons a demonstration on May 24 so that the proposed improvements are implemented next year.
The unions have been represented by Cristina Cartón (UGT), Mikel Larraza (ELA), Oihane Jordana (LAB), Edurne Errea (Steilas) and Pilar García (CCOO). EFE