Skopje, 26 April 2022 (MIA) — The nationwide teachers’ strike for higher pay continues after elementary and high school teachers across the country rejected the government’s latest offer of 12 percent raises starting in July, according to the Education, Science and Culture Workers’ Union leader Jakim Nedelkov. Speaking after the union council's meeting on Tuesday, Nedelkov said union members, as a further sign of dissatisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations, would hold a mass protest in front of the Government on Wednesday, May 4. “Our members considered the proposals. Out of a total of 480 unions that shared their opinions, 388 were in favor of continuing the strike, and only 83 were in favor of ending the strike,” the union leader said. According to him, most of the unions who wanted the strike over were childcare workers' unions, whereas all elementary and high school teachers' unions, without exception, were in favor of continuing the strike. “The Education, Science and Culture Workers’ Union council, given the summarized results, has decided to continue the strike in elementary and high schools until a mutually acceptable solution is found between the union and the government,” Nedelkov said. Based on the unionized childcare workers’ opinions, however, the union council would suspend the strike in daycare centers and they would reopen tomorrow, he said, “in the interest of parents, children and the economy.” The nationwide teachers strike over pay started on April 11. Teachers are demanding 18.4-percent raises in line with the recent 18.4-percent increase of the national minimum wage from 15,200 [EUR 246] to 18,000 [EUR 291] denars. mr/