Education: Faculty to “work to rule” this week over contract dispute, but classes to continue as normal.

Faculty at the International School of Luxembourg in Hollerich held a rally on Monday and declared they would “work to rule” this week to protest their lack of a new collective work agreement.

“Over 120 teachers gathered in front of the Forum Geesseknäppchen to march together in a cortege with their staff and union representatives to the ISL building, to begin their work at the time specified in the collective agreement,” according to a communiqué issued by the trade unions OGBL and the LCGB.

Matthew Dwyer, an English teacher, said on Twitter that staff were marching “for respect” as “ISL employees [had gone] 7 months w/o contract”.

“The negotiations that started in September 2015 have so far been unsuccessful on the essential points--the organisation of working time and wage increases,” the OGBL and LCGB said. Teachers rejected the school’s latest proposal on 9 March, the unions stated on Monday.

“ISL regrets that during the ongoing negotiations an ‘action’ has been organised,” Henry Munster, chairman of the school’s board of governors, said in a statement posted on its website (PDF) and emailed to parents. “The board understands the wishes of the social partners involved in the negotiations to express themselves.”

“The school has been assured that the action will not impact the running of the school day, and hence, not impact the students’ daily activities,” Munster wrote. “As the negotiations continue, the board is confident that a viable agreement will be found to the benefit of all parties concerned which will protect the best interests of the students, the staff and the community.”

The OGBL and LCGB stated: “To underline [their] determination, teachers, supported by other staff, will continue the work-to-rule action all week, namely begin work at 8:25am and end at 3:40pm. Unless the negotiations, that will take place on Wednesday, improve the situation.”