Pontifex – Teachers in Novum Limium will next week go on strike to demand better pay and working conditions. The strike, which will begin on Monday, is expected to affect schools across the state, with thousands of teachers taking part in the action.
The teachers, who are members of the Novum Limium Teachers Union (NLTU), are calling for a 20% pay increase and improved working conditions. They claim that they have not received a significant pay increase in years and that their working conditions have deteriorated due to budget cuts and increasing workloads.
“We love our jobs and our students, but we simply cannot continue to work under these conditions,” said Walker Smith, a secondary school teacher in Pontifex. “We deserve to be paid fairly for the work we do and to be given the resources we need to provide the best education for our students.”
The NLTU has been negotiating with the Novum Limium Ministry of Education for several months, but talks have stalled over the issue of pay. The Ministry of Education has offered a 5% pay increase, but the NLTU says this is insufficient and has rejected the offer.
“We understand the financial constraints facing the state, but we cannot accept such a small pay increase,” said Sarah Johnson, President of the NLTU. “Our members work tirelessly to educate our children, and we deserve to be compensated fairly for our efforts.”
The strike will cause wholesale disruption to schools and families across Novum Limium, with most schools intending to close or operate with reduced, non-union staff. Some parents have expressed frustration at the disruption, but many have voiced their support for the teachers’ cause.
“I understand that this is inconvenient for parents, but we need to support our teachers,” said Alexandra Davies, a parent in in Pontifex. “They are fighting for what is right, and we need to stand with them.”
The state government has called on the teachers to return to work, but the NLTU has vowed that they will not end the strike until their demands are met. The state Ministry of Education has not yet indicated whether it will increase its offer of a pay increase or improve working conditions for teachers.
“We are committed to our cause, and we will not back down until we receive fair pay and working conditions,” said Johnson.
The upcoming strike has already received national attention, with many other teachers’ unions expressing solidarity with the NLTU. The Sanctarian Federation of Teachers (SFT), a national teachers’ union, has issued a statement in support of the NLTU, calling for fair pay and working conditions for all teachers.
“The NLTU’s fight is our fight,” said Michael Brown, President of the SFT. “Teachers across Sanctaria deserve to be paid fairly and to work under safe and reasonable conditions. We stand with the NLTU and all teachers fighting for justice.”
ROBYN GRAY, Industry Affairs Correspondent
