TEACHERS and education support personnel from public and private schools and universities marched on Labor Day to make public their demands which included higher pay.

In the event they dubbed “Protesta de Mayo”, the teachers wrote their demands in the hats they wore.

Their demands included salary upgrading, grant of adequate benefits, implementation of education reforms and respect of union rights.

Teachers held Zumba dance protests early Monday at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Caloocan High School, Parañaque Science High School and Barangka Elementary School in Marikina.

“Our teachers are also joining the Labor Day protests in Baguio City, Rizal, Laguna, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Cebu City at Davao City today as we see the urgency of taking action to press the government to grant the much-needed salary increase. Naririto kami dahil itinuro sa amin ng 40 taon na karanasan ng ACT na ang bawat tagumpay sa pagtaas ng suweldo ay ipinaglaban ng mga guro sa kalsada,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said.

“Our teachers can no longer endure the sub-human work conditions in our schools wherein we were forced to teach in cramped and hot classrooms, made to take on non-teaching duties, paid salaries below liveable levels, and still obligated to spend on classrooms needs,” Quetua added.