Trade unions: reopening schools ‘unnecessary, dangerous’

Five trade union confederations published a statement on Wednesday, protesting against the government’s plan to reopen primary schools and kindergartens on April 19, saying the measure was “unnecessary and dangerous for children”.

The statement was signed by leaders of the Confederation of Trade Unions (SZEF), the Trade Union Association of Intellectuals (ÉSZT), the LIGA of trade unions, the National Association of Workers’ Councils and the Hungarian Association of Trade Unions (MASZSZ).

The unions welcomed the government decision to push back the opening of secondary schools to May 10.

They said, at the same time, that reopening kindergartens and primary schools was “unnecessary according to experts and everyday experience”.

They noted that a recent survey by the Teachers’ Union has shown that 81 percent of teachers did not feel their students would be safe at school, while 87 percent said they thought “it was very early” to reopen.