Salary 1 euro after taxes, the precarious teacher from Gorizia: ‘I don’t know if it’s over’

TRIESTE – “I have been working for 5 years, always as a temporary teacher in middle and high schools, with an income of about a thousand euros a month, for a part-time of 18 hours a week (50%). When my October salary arrived, 1 euro net, I was speechless. At the patronage, where I did the 730, I […]

TRIESTE – “I have been working for 5 years, always as a precarious teacher in middle and high schools, with an income of about a thousand euros a month, for a part-time of 18 hours a week (50%). When my October salary arrived, 1 euro net, I was speechless. At the patronage, where I did the 730, they told me that there was a balancing payment, but I expected it to be paid in installments, like in previous years”.

This is how Anna (fictitious name, identity known to ‘Dire’), a temporary substitute teacher from Isontino, a divorced mother, comments on the story that sees her the protagonist, together with the Revenue Agency, of an incredible episode for anyone who works: being left without a salary after having done their part for a month.

“Actually,” says the woman, “I’m not even sure that with this ‘setback’ I’ve settled the accounts with the Revenue Agency, or if I’ll have surprises in November too: I still need to have some concrete information. In any case, I’ll make it,” Anna assures, “I have some savings set aside, I don’t pay a high mortgage, in August I received the Naspi for July, and in September the one for August and the TFR for the previous year: luckily, because otherwise it would be nothing. What worries me is how do my colleagues do when they’re hired for the first time and only have a salary, because my case is not the only one. How do they pay the rent? By the way, the September salary arrived late, at the beginning of October”.

AGENZIA ENTRATE ST EVALUANDO IL CASO

Although she actually earns 13 thousand euros a year with taxes and contributions withheld at source on the 10 salaries, Anna explains that she also has 2-3 months of Naspi, the house she owns and the maintenance allowance from her ex-husband.

“All this makes income, and the balancing I think is due to this, but I don’t understand why I have to pay the difference all at once,” she comments. And she adds: “Now, I’ll let it go, I don’t want to cause controversy or bother the manager. I just want to clarify with the Revenue Agency to avoid it happening again. The UIL union representative has already told me that he was contacted by the Agency, which is taking an interest in my case.”

On the precariousness of the school profession, the teacher assures that it is not easy at all. “My contract is for 18 hours, perhaps another contract will be added that will allow me to put together a full-time job for a few months, which with my years of service means 1,500-1,600 euros a month,” Anna explains, “but with the risk of having to teach in different institutes. I took the last exams to become a tenured teacher, but I didn’t get a sufficient score, so I continue to teach from September to June,” she comments resignedly.

‘I FEEL A VOCATION, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE’

Resigned, but not defeated: “Even though we are state employees, burdened by taxes, obligations, regulations, declarations after declarations, with salaries among the lowest in Europe and with all the responsibilities, despite all this,for me it’s the best job in the world,” Anna assures.