Chilean public school teachers end strike

The Chilean teachers of the municipal sector Thursday ended the strike they launched on Oct. 23 to ask for the recognition of a long standing salary demand called "the historical debt."

According to a decision on Wednesday night during an assembly in Vina del Mar city, the teachers will return to work on Friday.

However, the government hasn't accepted their demand. "The struggles haven't finished" and they could return to strike if there is no agreement, Vice President of the Teachers Union Olimpia Riveros said.

Meanwhile, the Assembly of the Teachers College decided to summon a national protest next Tuesday when the National Congress discusses the budget for Education for 2010.

"We are surprised that the Chambers of Deputies have refused to assign a budget for Education, and we demand the government open a dialogue with the teachers over 'the historical debt'," Riveros said.

The Chilean government has said it is ready to discuss any topics with the teachers of the public sector, but it insisted "the historical debt" does not exist at all.

Source: Xinhua