Luxembourg's Ministry of Education, Children and Youth issued a statement on Thursday stating that it was "with dismay" that it learned in the press that the unions in secondary education (APESS, SEW and FEDUSE) formally and unanimously rejected the proposed agreement that they had agreed with the Ministry and openly supported at the end of the conciliation procedure, in early May.
The statement continues by stating that the unions' position is even more difficult to grasp as it is the second turnaround they have shown during the negotiations in which they are associated within a year. In November 2014, the trade unions had already declared their agreement with the measures proposed by the Ministry (introduction of a weighting in the final classes and countervailing measures), before returning to all agreed principles and initiate the conciliation procedure.
On 4 May 2015, after the fourth and final meeting of conciliation, the Ministry and the unions had agreed on a package of measures to be submitted to the vote of all teachers in secondary education. It reflected the willingness of each party to make concessions in the goal to reduce school failure and improve school quality.
A month later, the ministry stated that the unions distanced themselves not only of the measures chosen by mutual agreement, but they are still calling on teachers to vote against the proposed agreement. "This finding seriously brings into question the credibility of the unions and trust that the Ministry has the right to expect from official representatives of the faculty."
The Ministry stated that it is confident that negotiated measures will be approved by the teachers who will judge knowing the interest they represent for students and school quality.
"In the event of a negative vote, the government will assume its responsibilities and decide what action it deems appropriate" the statement concluded.
