During two consecutive meetings with officials, labour union representatives demanded 100 per cent salary increase for teachers in Bulgaria.
At the same time, Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski said as quoted by Novinar daily that no unplanned wage increase will be implemented.
To meet the demands of all protesting workers, Finance Ministry needed more than one billion leva, Oresharski said.
It was inappropriate to strike for higher wages at a moment when the ministry was starting to draft budget 2008, he said.
Union representatives meanwhile signed an agreement with which to demand 100 per cent wage increase starting January 1 2008. Education Minister Daniel Vulchev said that he never received information on such demand.
Vulchev said that the possible salary increase reached 25 per cent.
On June 18, employees of social institutions said that they would start striking, if wages do not increase. Staff of such facilities will follow the medics from Pirogov emergency institute, who have been protesting in demand of higher wages and better working conditions.
