Ohrid, 26 April 2022 (MIA) — More than 87 percent of unionized preschool and school teachers in Ohrid are dissatisfied with the government’s latest offer of 12 percent raises and want to continue striking until they receive 18.4 percent raises, the Education, Science, and Culture Workers’ Union regional board president Katerina Krsteska told MIA. According to Krsteska, 87.3 percent of the 692 union members voted in favor of continuing the strike, 7.5 percent voted for ending the strike, and some 5 percent abstained from voting. Krsteska said she hoped teachers nationwide, as well, would continue striking until the government met their demands. Previously, the government offered teachers 10 percent raises, after saying their salaries had already been increased since 2017 by 21 percent, with teachers now earning between Mden 24,786 [EUR 402] and Mden 25,642 [EUR 416] per month. Teachers rejected the offer despite the government saying they would not get paid except for their compulsory social insurance contributions. The nationwide teachers strike over pay started on April 11. They are demanding 18.4-percent raises in line with the recent 18.4-percent increase of the national minimum wage from 15,200 [EUR 246] to 18,000 [EUR 291] denars. mr/