On Friday May 6, 2022, negotiations were launched with the teachers' unions around their unique specifications.

Were present at this first day of negotiations the delegates of the Haitian Platform of Organizations of Workers in Education, the Platform of Teachers' Unions of Haiti, and those of two other organizations, the Union of Educational Staff (REFERANS) and the . Body of Independent and Non-Union Militant Professors (CORPROMIS) who also participated in the development of the single Specifications.

In his opening remarks, Minister Manigat shared some priority elements to be taken into account, elements relating to the overall orientation strategy of these negotiations. He also expressed his major concerns regarding the actions to be initiated urgently, in particular the preparation for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

The vast majority of the time of this first meeting was devoted to the budget, the revision and finalization of the salary grid and the payment of salary arrears.

In view of the economic difficulties caused by inflation, the unionists insisted on the urgency of the question linked to wage increases.

Manigat who said he was not unaware of the seriousness of the situation, explained that this question cannot be addressed for the moment, recalling that the Amending Budget is already drawn up for the fiscal year 2021-2022 which ends in three months. does not take it into account. He did not rule out the possibility that this aspect of salary increase be taken into account in the 2022-2023 Budget.

However, he assured that other social benefits would be included in the 2021-2022 Amending Budget, mentioning in particular the Professional Card which will entitle teaching staff to preferential rates on the purchase of certain goods and services. In addition, to fill the void of the salary increase which cannot be addressed quickly, the minister would consider compensation in the form of an exceptional bonus which would be granted to teachers.

At the end of the meeting, 3 decisions were made :

• The continuation of discussions on salary increases, in view of the precarious economic situation, thus putting teachers in great social difficulty;

• The transfer of some teachers in difficulty of displacement in the metropolitan area of ​​Port-au-Prince, because of the violence of the armed groups;

• The need to create a Trade Union Support Fund.

The next meeting is scheduled after the festivities on May 18.

HL/ HaitiLibre