Schools across Serbia shut down as education workers strike for better pay, protection

Union representatives earlier announced that meetings at individual schools will be followed by larger gatherings in city centers.

In Belgrade, protesters will assemble at noon in Manjez Park, across from the Ministry of Education. In addition to Belgrade, education workers will also rally in the cities of Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Nis, Sabac, Valjevo, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Leskovac, Sombor and Pozarevac.

The four representative education unions in Serbia have four demands.

The unions want proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, which would impose harsher punishments for attacks on educators, to be put to public debate and fast-tracked through Parliament.

They are also calling for starting teacher salaries to match the national average salary, in line with a protocol that has been signed with the Serbian Government, and for this increase to apply equally across all education sector employees.

By the end of 2024, the unions want the government to change the system for calculating public sector salaries in consultation with the representative unions and in line with the signed protocol, and are demanding the New Year holiday bonus promised to education workers in their collective bargaining agreement.