Turkish teachers go on strike: Foreign teacher crisis

Turkish teachers working at a Private Italian High School located in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, have launched a protest against the school administration's low salary increase offer and the significant income gap between them and the Italian teachers employed at the school. The Turkish teachers have decided to go on strike due to this inequality and injustice.

ALLEGATIONS OF SALARY INEQUALITY AND HEAVY WORKLOAD

According to the teachers' claims, Italian national teachers working at the school receive at least 5 times the salary of their Turkish colleagues. Based on the information they provided, while Italian teachers earn approximately 350 thousand liras, the salary offered to Turkish teachers is around 65 thousand liras. The teachers state that despite this, the school assigns the majority of tasks that could be considered menial—such as administrative duties, additional responsibilities, and meetings with parents—to the Turkish staff.

SCHOOL TUITION FEES INCREASED BUT TEACHER SALARIES REMAINED UNCHANGED

The increase in tuition or school registration fees is striking: It is stated that the school's prices have risen from "100 thousand to 545 thousand." In contrast, it is emphasized that there has been no "meaningful improvement" in teacher salaries. The teachers state that this situation is contrary to both economic conditions and the principle of equality.

The Turkish teachers are demanding that the school administration both improve salaries to a reasonable level and eliminate the wage gap between them and the Italian teachers. They want an end to the perception of "two different worlds" while working at the same school.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION SILENT

No statement has been made by the school administration regarding the matter so far. The educators plan to continue their actions if the regulations they demand are not implemented.

News Source: 12punto