KNSB with a protest on May 20 because of salaries in higher education

KNSB announced a protest on May 20 because of salaries in higher education. This was announced by the National Trade Union "Higher Education and Science". – KNSB (VON – KNSB)

In a statement to the media, it is specified that the state policy for increasing and stabilizing the incomes of those working in the field of higher education and science, which began in 2020, foresees an annual increase in the salaries of the academic and non-academic staff of the state higher education institutions (SHEs) in Republic of Bulgaria. As a result of this measure, an additional BGN 39 million has been earmarked in the state budget for 2024, which is necessary for an increase in the salaries of the academic staff from 01.01.2024.

A subsequent increase in salaries is planned, starting from 01.04.2024, for which BGN 150 million is planned (compensation for the drop in student fees, announced by the regular Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov).

It is agreed and established by law that they are intended for the remuneration of the academic and non-academic staff at DVU, as well as for increasing the scholarships of doctoral students. The necessary changes in the Higher Education Act (HEA) have also been proposed and approved, following the income policy and especially the reform for the creation of a specialized administration, laid down from 2020 in Art. 53, for which there was no funding until now. Thus, the proposed draft of the Ministry of Education and Culture for the Resolution of the Council of Ministers (PMC), whose period for public discussion ended on 11.04.2024, is already a month dependent on the decision of the Ministry of Finance (MOF)."

"In connection with the implementation of the above-mentioned income policies, since the beginning of the year, numerous meetings were held at the state level, initiated both by the National Trade Union “Higher Education and Science” – KNSB (VON – KNSB), as well as from relevant ministries and commissions in the National Assembly, and the additional amounts were agreed specifically with the financial team at the Ministry of Education and Culture.

However, after the inauguration of the current cabinet, all upcoming actions have turned into collective inaction, especially on the part of the Ministry of Finance, the union also states.

At the meeting held on 05/08/2024 at the Ministry of Finance, the acting minister Lyudmila Petkova, the acting minister Galin Tsokov, each with their financial team, took part, Mr. Krasimir Valchev – chairman of the Committee on Education and Science, and on behalf of VON-KNSB – Prof. Liliana Valcheva and Associate Professor Agata Manolova. Acting Minister Petkova asked for additional time and announced that the next meeting will be held on Friday, 10.05.2024, citing the need for time to verify the calculations presented by the Ministry of Education and Culture and ensure the necessary funding under PMS.

The KNSB states that the working session did not take place due to the fault of the Ministry of Finance.

"We categorically do not agree that the established income policy, followed for three years by several regular and caretaker governments, should be destroyed now with the unilateral refusal of the caretaker finance minister. Minister Petkova refuses to take responsibility as part of the MoF team in the Denkov office, which publicly announced a free resource of BGN 150 million to compensate for the ad hoc introduction of free education at DVU. Now, in her capacity as an official minister, Mrs. Petkova refuses to provide this amount, violating the decision of the National Assembly, the union also stated.

"It turns out that higher education is not among the main state priorities, and the state tends to save funds from it, so that there are no intelligent voters who can think, evaluate facts and actions and look for an account of those who do not think about the future To Bulgaria. We cannot remain uninvolved!", it is also written in the position of the KNSB.