Limburg, Brabant primary schools closed as teachers strike

Most primary schools in Limburg and Noord-Brabant are closed on Friday as teachers in these provinces strike for higher salaries and lower workloads. This is the third in a relay-strike by primary school teachers in the Netherlands, following strikes in the center of the country last month, and in the north the month before.

Primary school teachers across the Netherlands have been campaigning since last year. The relay strikes followed two nationwide strikes in October and December last year. On May 30th, teachers in Gelderland and Overijssel will lay down their work, according to RTL Niuews.

The teachers want a higher salary and a lower workload. The government recently promised primary schools more money to reduce teachers' workloads. But the unions are still dissatisfied with the 270 million euros promised teachers to improve their salaries. They want at least 900 million euros for this purpose.

Friday's strike will be accompanies by two demonstrations, in Eindhoven in the morning and in Sittard in the afternoon. The actions are organized by educational organizations, including teachers unions AOb, CNV Onderwijs, FNV Overheid, primary schools' organization PO-raad, and action group PO in Actie.

During the previous relay strike in the center of the country last month, RTL Nieuws surveyed parents on how they feel about the strikes. 51 percent supported the teachers in full, 40 percent agreed with the teachers' demand but not with the strikes, and nearly 10 percent found the strikes nonsense, according to the broadcaster.