Skopje, 4 October 2022 (MIA) – Representatives of the Association of Trade Unions of the Skopje Ss. Cyril and Methodius University held a meeting Tuesday in the government with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and ministers over signing of a collective agreement and gradual pay raise. Head of the trade union, Angel Ristov told media that the talks were held in constructive manner, adding that government officials said that they need more time to make additional assessments as the adoption of budget for next year is to follow in the coming period. Ristov also said that Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi and Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri “concluded that there is a political will on their part to meet the demands of the trade union.” They agreed that the trade union will be invited to a meeting again soon and expected to get positive response to their demands. “The meeting was constructive. We have presented our legitimate demands and arguments. They pointed out the very difficult economic and financial situation. In the end, they concluded that there is a political will on their part to meet the demands of the trade union. They needed more time to make additional assessments as the adoption of budget for next year is to follow in the coming period. Very soon we will be invited at a meeting again and we expect to get positive response to our demands. Because if a state doesn't invest in higher education, in science, then that state has no future,” Ristov said. The demands of the Association of Trade Unions of the Skopje Ss. Cyril and Methodius University include signing of a collective agreement and gradual pay raise, 25 percent annually before getting to a 100-percent raise after four years for the staff at the country’s oldest and largest university to be paid a decent and dignified salary. Regarding the 7 percent pay raise achieved by SONK, Ristov said that the increase is minimal and that it does not affect the most vulnerable category of employees - non-teaching staff, adding as a union, we represent the interests not only of the teaching staff, but also of the non-teaching staff.