Thousands of striking Croatian teachers protest over wages

Some 20,000 Croatian teachers and their supporters rallied in Zagreb Monday seven weeks into strike action for higher wages, which they say lag behind other public sector employees.

The Balkan country's primary and secondary school teachers launched the action on October 10, starting with a rotating schedule in which teachers in each county strike around one day per week.

But since November 19 the strike has been an all-out, nationwide action bringing public education to a halt, increasing pressure on the government of conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. So far, students have missed 11 days of classes. "I'd rather be teaching ... but this is important," read one banner carried by demonstrators who marched through central Zagreb blowing whistles and playing drums.

The protesters, who descended on the capital from across the country, massed in the main Jelacic square in a demonstration dubbed "Croatia must do better".

The average salary for teachers is around 7,000 kunas (942 euros, $1,037).

But union leader Sanja Sprem, addressing the crowd, said the movement was no longer only a strike for higher wages.

"This is also a movement for a better future of our children and our homeland... education has been permanently neglected," she said.

"No surrender, no surrender!" protestors chanted.

As well as a wage increase, unions also want better working conditions and more government to help to implement a major reform, launched this year, aimed at modernising the education system and curriculum. The government offered a gradual 6.12-percent wage increase for all public sector employees next year, but the teachers' unions have refused it.