Thousands of teachers marched to the Greek parliament on Thursday, protesting the new education bill that was tabled for discussion. Unions, including the Greek Federation of Secondary Education State School Teachers, Greek Secondary School Teacher Union, All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), SEPE and ADEDY participated in the march.
The teachers are protesting the bill that proposes recruiting 15,000 teachers on precarious contracts and say it endangers the jobs of thousands of educators who are hired every year on a temporary basis. Chrisoula Lampoudi of All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) told Peoples Dispatch that the government must recruit 30,000 teachers on a permanent contract.
902.gr reported that the protesters chanted slogans such as “Give money for education, and not for NATO slaughterhouses” and “This bill will be on paper “. Protest gatherings were also organized in places including Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Zakynthos, Lesvos, Lemnos, Chios, Alexandroupolis etc.
According to reports, hundreds of students also hit the streets under the banner of student organizations, in various parts of Greece against the bill. Teachers’ unions also sought increased investment in education and student care. Earlier protests by teachers on January 11 and 14 were met with harsh repression by the police who fired tear gas on them. A number of protesters were injured.
