Teachers agree to a truce

Three unions representing high school state educators have agreed to a truce with the government, in order to reengage in a weeklong dialogue aimed at finding common ground in school reform.

Despite strong rhetoric and public exchanges between organised teachers and Education Minister Costas Hambiaouris, all parties have agreed to a restart of dialogue on Monday.

The truce came following a meeting on Friday at the Presidential Palace, where President Nicos Anastasiades invited the teachers in an attempt to reset the tone of the debate.

Union representatives said the meeting was friendly and constructive, but did not say whether or not they would cancel plans for a strike in September.

Following the meeting, OELMEK union leader Yiannos Socratous said after the weeklong discussion with the ministry will be evaluated by representatives of the three unions, including POED and OLTEK.

Socratous said going on a strike was not the aim of the unions.

POED leader Filios Fylaktou said “there will be a discussion on all issues so that we can have a normal start of the academic year.”

Teachers say the government is trying to shift some hours and take away non-instructional time in order to push for budget cuts.

But the minister says 67 educators, who either teach fewer hours or none at all because of their union activities, end up costing the state over €700,000.

A lot of arguments remain between the two sides, but a secret meeting a few days ago with stakeholders, sponsored by parents groups, was said to have been successful in hitting the reset button.