Portuguese school staff are marching for better wages and working conditions

Thousands of teachers and non-educational staff are demonstrating in Lisbon today in a protest organized by the Union of All Professionals of Education (STOP) to demand better working conditions and wages, and against minimum facilities in schools.

This is the third march promoted by STOP since December, which demanded measures such as a €120 salary increase for all education professionals, including teachers and non-teaching staff.

This Saturday’s march is in response to the decision of the Portuguese Court of Arbitration, which announced minimum provisions for schools on Friday after the unpredictability of the strikes declared by STOP.

The minimum service covers teachers, non-teaching staff and senior technicians, with the aim of guaranteeing the support of certain groups of pupils.

The protests and strikes have been held in response to the Ministry of Education’s proposal for a new model for teacher recruitment and placement.

STOP claimed 20,000 protesters attended the first march in December and reported that 100,000 took part in a second march on January 14.

In addition to Saturday’s protest, a follow-up demonstration is planned for February 11.