Two unions said on Friday that teachers would launch a strike in Poland after rejecting government proposals amid a simmering pay dispute.

Teachers have threatened to start a nationwide protest of unlimited duration on Monday, just before key exams at various levels of education.

The government has insisted that the exams will take place regardless of whether a strike breaks out, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydło said the government had offered teachers salary increases.

But after talks on Friday, officials from the powerful Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP) and another union known as the Trade Unions Forum (FZZ) said in a joint statement: "The government's proposals to date do not provide grounds for calling off a strike as part of a legal collective dispute under way. The strike will start on April 8."

Earlier, the head of the Trade Unions Forum had proposed holding another round of talks with the government on Sunday at 6pm, according to the IAR news agency.

The Rzeczpospolita daily last week quoted a survey according to which more than six in 10 Poles were against teachers striking at a time of important school exams.

At the same time, respondents to the survey by pollster IBRiS said they were convinced teachers would eventually secure the pay hikes they are demanding from the government, Rzeczpospolita reported.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP/IAR