European Trade Union Committee for Education

The theme of this years’ World Day of Decent Work on 7 October 2016 concerns decent pay. Trade Unions in Europe are calling on the European Union to take initiatives to raise pay and reduce the pay gap. This year the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) raises especially awareness on decent pay in the private industry sectors linked to supply chain responsibility, within and beyond the EU and focuses on industries where wages are far from decent. ETUCE wishes to complete the picture and draw attention to the situation in the public sector of education.

Indeed, ETUCE has repeatedly highlighted in its resolutions the importance of professional salary levels, decent pensions and working conditions for teachers: decent salaries, pensions and working conditions for education staff help to raise the attractiveness of the teaching profession and are prerequisite for quality education. However, as a result of the share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declining in many European countries since 2008, investment in education declined in real terms. Furthermore, teachers’ salaries remained stable or decreased in 2012 - 2014 in many European countries. After experiencing years of cuts and freezes, according to the latest EURYDICE study for 2015-2016, salaries seem to be slowly rising due to a general salary adjustment for all public employees. However, in many European countries they have not returned back to the level prior to the economic crisis.

Linked to decent pay is the battle for equal pay. Throughout Europe, the gender pay gap continues to exist, with a percentage difference of up to 29.9% in Latvia, making women to live in poverty in older age. In the education sector, female teachers in some European countries work mostly with the youngest students and receive lower salaries than those working with other students, while according to the European Union legislation, female teachers should receive equal pay for equal work of equal value.

Addressing the gender pay gap in education, ETUCE underlines the importance of men and women receiving equal pay for work with equal value, as well as working in the healthy and safe working conditions, equivalent to those in other professions with a similar level of qualifications.

Click on the links to learn more on the state of funding in education, teacher’s working conditions, social dialogue and trade union rights in Europe:

ETUCE report on CEE countries

ETUCE report on Western European countries