The latest meeting to discuss the negotiation protocol took place before the commencement of negotiations next month, with most unions welcoming the proposal. However, the Federação Nacional dos Professores (Fenprof) and the Sindicato de Todos os Profissionais da Educação (Stop) have not yet made a decision.
“There is a recognition of the importance of valuing the career as a fundamental and urgent starting point, but the text itself does not reflect this,” lamented Fenprof’s Secretary-General, José Feliciano Costa, speaking to journalists after the meeting.
In 2024, when the topic began to be discussed prior to the government’s dissolution, Fenprof did not sign the negotiation protocol, opposing the order of discussion points proposed by the government and the absence of a set conclusion date for the negotiations.
These issues, as explained by José Feliciano Costa, persist, prompting the federation not to endorse the document yet again, though they pledge to participate in negotiations “in good faith.”
According to the government’s proposal, the agenda includes teacher profiles and qualifications for teaching, recruitment, career entry, professional formation and development, organization of teaching time, working conditions, career structure (including salary scales), and finally, performance evaluation.
Additionally, Fenprof laments that other issues like retirement, mobility, and disciplinary regulations are absent from the agenda, being relegated to the final negotiation stages.
From Stop, Daniel Martins, the union leader, indicated that they have not yet signed the negotiation protocol but stressed that this is not the central issue.
“The meeting showed more than that. It proved that the government does not intend to address the core problems of the teaching career that have led to a shortage of teachers in schools,” he stated, criticizing the prioritization of topics being discussed.
Conversely, among the ten union structures that have reached an agreement with the MECI is the Federação Nacional da Educação (FNE), which is preparing to enter negotiations with the belief that substantial work lies ahead.
“Satisfaction can only be measured at the end. If by the end of the process we achieve a substantial part of our objectives, then I will be very pleased to say we are satisfied. If we don’t… I can’t even consider that possibility,” said the Secretary-General.
Speaking to journalists, Pedro Barreiros praised the commitment by Fernando Alexandre’s team to have a new teaching career statute in effect by 2027, though this deadline is not formally set.
Until then, as the minister had previously mentioned, certain matters could be implemented as negotiations progress.
The first negotiation meeting is scheduled for December 5th.
