Ukrainian teachers, organized by trade unions, are ready to hold mass protest actions in early 2001 if the government fails to raise their wages beginning in January, Deputy Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Scientists’ and Educators’ Trade Union Halyna PIDDUBNA told Interfax-Ukraine on December 18. In particular she spoke of teachers’ dissatisfaction with the government planning to raise wages by 25% not as of January 1, 2001, but as of April 1. Ms. Piddubna also recalled that according to the memorandum signed between the government and the trade union central committee, educators’ and scientists’ salaries are to be raised at the beginning of 2001. As she put it, a number of schools in some regions of Ukraine are preparing for protest actions. She has not ruled out the possibility of protest actions being held prior to the New year. According to Central committee head of the Medical workers’ trade union Tamila KARAZINA, it is also ready to stage a nationwide protest early next year should the government fail to raise medical workers’ wages by at least 25%, and if salary arrears in the health care sector are not paid by the New Year. She also said that doctors are “outraged” by the government’s intention to raise salaries paid from the budget not as of January next year, as was promised before, but as of next April.
