Education, Science and Culture Workers Union head Jakim Nedelkov said the announced nationwide teachers’ strike has started early Monday and would last until salaries in public education are increased by 18.4 percent.

The strike in schools and kindergartens has started, from what has been sent to me so far as a message from most colleagues, it is as we planned. For the most part or a huge part the strike runs without serious problems, Nedelkov told MIA.

Organized by the union, the strike is being staged by preschool, elementary, and high school staff as well as higher education institutions.

If there are students showing up for the canceled classes, Nedelkov said, it was the school principals’ duty to organize their stay.

The union leader added that it was illegal to put pressure on teachers to not strike.

Over the past two weeks, unionists had been trying to negotiate with the government an immediate pay rise by 18.4 percent, following the recent national minimum wage increase from Mden 15,200 to Mden 18,000. Their demand wasn’t met.