Thousands of Poland’s education and academia workers gathered outside the Education Ministry in Warsaw on the first day of school, demanding a 10% pay increase and linking teacher salaries to national average income from 2026.
Historic Protest on First Day of School
The historic rally marked the first day of the school year and was organized by the Polish Teachers’ Association (ZNP). The Ministry of Education reported that 12,700 job offers were available nationwide, though ZNP claimed 20,000 teaching positions were vacant.
Main Demands and Deadlines
The main demands include a 10% pay increase with retroactive payments effective immediately, accelerated work on the ZNP’s citizen initiative to link teacher salaries to the national average income, and significant improvements in school conditions for both students and teachers.
Ministry’s Response and Ongoing Actions
The Education Ministry highlighted upcoming reforms, including a new negotiation framework and initiatives such as the elimination of “availability hours.”
