Teacher Salaries: Potential Increases on the Horizon

Potential Pay Increases for Teachers

New salary increases for teachers could be on the horizon with the upcoming renewal of the National Collective Labor Agreement for Education and Research, following the previous update for 2019-2022, which has already seen a rise in amounts.

But just how much will teachers’ salaries increase with the next contract renewal? According to Il Sole 24 Ore, which has provided some insights, the renewal of the collective agreement is expected to yield a 6% increase compared to the last one.
Meanwhile, as the Ministry announces the potential salary hikes, educators are gearing up for a nationwide strike on October 31, called by trade unions affecting the entire education sector.

Expected Salary Increase Details

The anticipated salary hikes for teachers are indeed expected to be around 6% more than the previous contract for 2019-2024.
Reports from Il Sole 24 Ore indicate that the increment from the new Collective Agreement 2022-2024 will be backed by €200 million allocated in the new Budget Law, which the government is expected to finalize by December.

These new salary increases could surpass the previously announced amounts of €160 by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara and €124 gross per month from the last renewal.
Additionally, with the 2025 Budget Law, educators are set to benefit from another €100 raise in their paychecks, thanks to the continuation of cuts to labor costs and a restructuring of income tax that would introduce progressive tax breaks for incomes up to €40,000.

However, much hinges on the resources allocated and whether they will be enough to implement these benefits or result in a reduction in the eligible workforce.

Current Developments and Strikes

The full details of the reform still need to be discussed and passed by year-end, meaning it remains unclear if the measure will be officially confirmed.

Meanwhile, for school principals, new salary increases from the contractual renewal are already being implemented since October.
In September, school heads received back pay from increases expected under the contractual renewal, processed through a special payment that covered wages from January to September 2024.

As discussions around teacher pay intensify, the education community prepares for the strike set for October 31, announced by unions to include not only teachers but also ATA staff, universities, research, and AFAM personnel.

Particularly, the Flc Cgil union highlights demands for additional resources to support the renewal of the 2022-2024 Agreement “to safeguard the purchasing power of salaries, significantly eroded by an inflation rate of nearly 18% over the past three years.”

Furthermore, unions are advocating for the national consistency of the contract against any attempts at regionalization, a prospect that seems possible with the proposed differentiated autonomy law.

The strike mainly targets precarious workers who are seeking recognition of their rights to match those of tenured teachers, including the €500 Teacher’s Card.
They are calling for stable employment against the misuse of fixed-term contracts, an issue already brought to the European Court of Justice by the European Commission.

Those who passed the 2023 school competition and lack a ranking, along with eligible candidates from the 2020 competition still waiting for placement, are pushing for an exhaustion ranking and are determined to prevent the ministry from announcing another competition, as indicated by Valditara.

For further insights regarding these developments, you can read more on [Il Sole 24 Ore](https://www.ilsole24ore.com).