Slovaks stand behind the strikers

THE RECENT mass protests in Slovakia have support among the public, according to a survey carried out by the Focus polling agency.

Students came to support teachers. Students came to support teachers. (Source: TASR )

The survey showed that the leaving of several hundred nurses from hospitals is more justified than closed schools during teachers’ strike. Of those polled, 27.5 percent definitely uphold the strike of teachers (who have been joined also by parents and students in street protests); and a further 24.2 percent rather support it.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

In regard to nurses, 28.6 percent decisively uphold their giving notices, while 32 percent consider them rather legitimate, the Sme daily quoted the survey.

On the contrary, 18.4 percent do not agree with the teachers’ initiative that resulted in a strike; while 15 percent of respondents consider nurses' acting decisively unfounded.

SkryťTurn off ads

Focus agency’s Martin Slosiarik reminds that most people perceive problems in the health-care sector more sensitively, as these might threaten life. On the other hand, Slovak teachers earn less than 60 percent of the average salary of a university or college graduate; while in OECD, the average for teachers is 80 percent.

The tense situation among nurses and teachers and the government on the other side may worsen the outcome of the ruling Smer party shortly before the upcoming general election, to take place March 5.

The poll was carried out between January 22 and 31, 2016 among 1,009 respondents.  

Top stories

Janka, a blogger, during the inauguration of the first flight to Athens with Aegean Airlines at the airport in Bratislava on September 14, 2023.

A Czech rail operator connects Prague and Ukraine, Dominika Cibulková endorses Pellegrini, and Bratislava events.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad