Polish teachers to protest for wage increases on August 31

The Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP) has announced a large-scale protest scheduled for August 31 in front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The demonstration, held under the slogan “Politicians, keep your word!”, responds to what union leaders describe as unfulfilled promises regarding teacher salaries and professional prestige made during the 2023 parliamentary elections.

The ZNP is demanding a 15-percent wage increase as an initial step toward a systemic reform. Their primary goal is to link teacher salaries directly to the national average wage, a move they believe would end the need for annual negotiations and provide financial stability. ZNP President Sławomir Broniarz criticized the current legislative stagnation, noting that the union's initiative has been stalled in Parliament for nearly two years.

The Ministry of National Education (MEN) is currently working on a legislative amendment to the Teacher's Charter. This proposal aims to ensure that beginning teachers receive a 3-percent wage increase in 2027, matching the growth rates of more experienced staff. However, union representatives have criticized this measure as insufficient and overly technical, arguing it only affects a small percentage of the profession and fails to address the broader systemic issues requested by the union.