Education Union: The Ministries of Finance and Education Are Grossly Violating the Law and the Sectoral Collective Agreement, Teachers’ Salaries Reduced by up to 50 Euros

Source: Antena M – Author: M.J. Gdnus

For the second year in a row, Montenegro’s Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, is grossly violating the Sectoral Collective Agreement (SCA) for the education sector. This time, through a new payroll calculation system, they have decided to reduce the salaries of thousands of teachers by up to 50 euros, the Education Union of Montenegro announced today.

Although, according to the union, representatives of the Ministry of Finance had previously assured them that the goal was not to reduce teachers’ salaries, and that a favorable solution could be found through compromise and amendments to the SCA, they were informed at a meeting last week — attended by representatives from both ministries — that the Government has no intention of working on such amendments for now, and that the centralized payroll system must be implemented.

"This means there will be no compromise and that teachers will receive reduced July salaries — by as much as 50 euros. The Executive Board of the Education Union of Montenegro, in reviewing the current situation regarding salary reductions, expresses disappointment with the attitude of both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation toward educators," the statement reads.

The Union posed several questions to Finance Minister Novica Vuković and Minister of Education, Science and Innovation Anđela Jakšić Stojanović:

"Why have you abandoned your promise to find a compromise solution through amendments to the Sectoral Collective Agreement, ensuring that teachers’ salaries would not be reduced? Why are you grossly violating the Sectoral Collective Agreement by designing a payroll software system that is not in line with Article 22 of the SCA? Are you again taking a position of power, making unilateral decisions and trampling social dialogue?

Is your goal, by blatantly violating the Labor Law and the SCA and applying brute force, to show how little you value teachers and their rights and dignity? Is this your way of motivating educators ahead of the announced education system reform — by cutting their pay, hoping they will work more and better?" the Executive Board of the Education Union asked.

They stressed that they are always open to compromise and claim that the software can easily be adjusted to comply with the education sector and the SCA — if there is goodwill.

"Unfortunately, that goodwill is currently lacking. The Education Union was ready to accept changes to the SCA, as long as salaries were not reduced. However, following these unilateral actions, the Union has no choice but to resort to all available trade union measures to defend the salaries of education workers," they stated.

The Executive Board has scheduled an emergency session of the Education Union’s Main Board for Wednesday, July 2, 2025, and a press conference to inform teachers and the public about their next steps on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

"Despite everything, the Education Union still believes that reason will prevail within our Government, and that Prime Minister Spajić, Minister Vuković, and Minister Jakšić-Stojanović will not go down in history as the first Montenegrin government to cut teachers' salaries.

If the Government remains determined to reduce teachers’ pay, the Education Union and education workers will not accept another humiliation — one marked by violations of the Sectoral Collective Agreement and salary cuts," the Union concluded.