Today, on October 9, the first meeting took place between the City of Tallinn, the Tallinn Educational Personnel Union, the Tallinn School Leaders' Association, and the Tallinn Early Childhood Education Leaders' Association. The goal was to discuss ways to improve the salaries and working conditions of teachers in the capital city by 2025.

As a result of the meeting, the parties outlined the needs of the education sector for 2025.

Deputy Mayor Aleksei Jašin, who oversees the education sector in Tallinn, said: “Proposals with significant budgetary impact included raising the minimum salary for qualified teachers, class teacher fees in general education schools, and the salary fund for school leaders and other management staff. In addition, support was requested by the teachers for signing and implementing the education agreement, and for starting negotiations on a career model and working conditions for kindergarten teachers. We are conducting the necessary calculations with the Tallinn Education Department and will present these proposals to the city government during the 2025 budget talks,” said Jašin.

Chairman of the Tallinn Teachers' Union Andero Vaarik said that today’s meeting was constructive and forward-looking. “Topics included raising the minimum wage for class teachers, raising the minimum salary for teachers, preferably for qualified educators, so that in the future, we have qualified and motivated teachers in front of students, and the education agreement. During the meeting, it was confirmed that if the city signs the education agreement, the implementation of the agreement in Tallinn would be reviewed starting in 2026,” said Vaarik.

The negotiations were attended by Tallinn Deputy Mayor Aleksei Jašin and Head of the Tallinn Education Department Kaarel Rundu, representative of the Tallinn School Leaders' Association Mari-Liis Sults, representative of the Tallinn Early Childhood Education Leaders' Association Silvi Suur, and Chairman of the Tallinn Educational Personnel Union Andero Vaarik.

The negotiations are taking place in parallel with the drafting of the 2025 city budget, where the wishes and needs of teachers are being considered. Another meeting is planned later this year to confirm the city's budgetary capabilities and finalize the relevant agreement. After the first meetings, proposals will be submitted to the Tallinn City Government to reach agreements within the city’s budgetary limits.