In a letter to local authorities, teachers recall how in 1981, Augusto Pinochet’s regime transferred control of the education system to municipalities, causing dire consequences for them.

To begin with, teachers lost their status as public employees, and secondly and even more harmful, local governments refused to recognize a general wage rise decreed by the State, arguing that it was not their responsibility to assume such hike.

This was the origin of the historical debt, due to the difference between the new salaries and the limited previous income they received and on which their pensions were calculated.

Seeking to make a case, teachers have filed several lawsuits to the country’s courts and international organizations in more than 40 years.

Ied/iff/ro/car/eam