Zl. 1 billion lacking for school salaries if Teachers' Act not amended

According to the Education Ministry, zl. 1 billion will be again missing for raises in teachers' salaries unless the government amends the Teachers ' Act. The Ministry proposes that the point in the Act requiring the base salary to amount to not less than 75% of the whole pay should be eliminated. "This destroys our whole system and militates against a bill guaranteeing the average teachers' salary. The budget cannot afford such expenditures," said deputy education minister Irena Dzierzgowska. According to her, teachers would not lose out on this amendment, as only the structure of payment will be changed and not the amount paid. "The teachers earning least will lose the most this way, as they often do not have chances for any special bonuses," claim the labor unions, who warn that if this amendment is voted through they will begin a general strike. (Zycie, p. 1) M.M.