WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Teachers in Poland have gone on a nationwide strike to demand higher pay after days of talks with the government failed to meet demands by the majority of teachers unions.
The open-ended strike by school and kindergarten teachers that started Monday is the first such widespread action by Poland’s chronically underpaid educators since 1993.
It comes at a sensitive time, just days before crucial end-of-school exams in primary and middle schools, and weeks ahead of elections to the European Parliament that are key for the government.
The go-ahead for the protest was given after last-ditch talks with the government failed Sunday night. Only the small Solidarity union accepted the government proposals and is not on strike.
Many schools are closed to students.
