TIRANA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Teachers in Albania will go on a strike if their salaries do not increase by 20 percent by May 1, the head of the Independent Education Union Nevruz Kaptelli announced here on Thursday.

The union claims that the strike is due to government's failure to keep the promise to raise the salaries made two and a half years ago.

According to Kaptelli, the salaries and working conditions for teachers have remained the same

"We will call on the teachers to boycott classes and go on strike until the salaries have an increase of 20 percent," said Kaptelli.

The 2019 Budget of the Albanian government for the education ministry foresees an increase of 7 percent for the salaries of 35,000 teachers working in the pre-university education system, which will enter in force starting from April 1st.

The warning of the union comes on March 7 that marks the celebration day for the teachers in Albania.