Polish teachers protest in Warsaw over wage indexation promises

Teachers in Poland, represented by the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP), held a demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's Chancellery in Warsaw on August 31. The protest, organized under the slogan “Politicians, keep your word!”, aims to pressure the government to advance a civic legislative project titled “Dignified Wages and High Prestige for Teachers.”

The core demand is to legally link teacher salaries to the average wage in the national economy to ensure automatic indexation. Protesters expressed frustration that despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s November 2024 pledge to accelerate the project, the initiative remains stalled in parliamentary committees.

ZNP President Sławomir Broniarz criticized the government's handling of the issue, noting that while some teachers appear to earn high salaries, many must work multiple jobs or excessive overtime to reach those levels. While the union has not yet called for a full strike, Broniarz indicated that the current lack of progress is damaging the credibility of the ruling coalition and the effectiveness of dialogue with Education Minister Barbara Nowacka.