Ramallah: Public school teachers from the West Bank have warned that they will go on a one-day general strike on October 11.
This comes on the heels of a sit-in at the centre of Ramallah, during which 17 teachers were arrested. The educators are demanding that the promises made to them by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last year be implemented immediately.
During the previous strike, Palestinian law enforcement officials dispersed the attendees, detaining 17 teachers who had come from across the West Bank. The teachers were planning to meet to finalise arrangements, including a proposed indefinite general strike.
A statement released by the teachers stated that the Palestinian security officials had also seized the identity cards of dozens of other teachers without returning them, indicating that the teachers will be summoned for interrogation at a future point.
Bashir Jawabrah, a leader of the teachers’ movement, noted that the officially appointed teachers’ organisation does not represent the Palestinian teachers who have formed their own group, and have submitted their official documents for the approval of the relevant Palestinian authorities. The Palestinian teachers are demanding that they be allowed to appoint their own representatives without any government interference.
Last February, the teachers went on a strike that lasted more than a month, during which time Palestinian pupils had no access to education. After every attempt to resolve the crisis had failed, President Abbas personally intervened and promised the teachers that all their demands would be met within a scheduled framework.
The teachers’ demands include that the Palestinian government fulfil its 2013 promise to increase wages, and that all outstanding sums owed to the teachers be paid out. The teachers are also demanding gender equality. Currently, when a female teacher dies, her salary ceases immediately, while the salary of a male teacher who dies continues to be paid to his wife or children. The teachers are also demanding fundamental changes to the Palestinian civil service law.
In a strongly worded statement, however, the Palestinian Education Ministry warned that it unequivocally rejects the possibility of any further strike action, and warns that such strikes are destroying the entire Palestinian education process.
“The ministry will never stand with its hands tied while this major devastation continues. Salary cuts will initially be applied against those who participate in strikes,” warned the ministry. “Teachers who miss their classes will be fired, and will be replaced by others from the ministry’s long waiting list.”
The ministry called on teachers to commit to their responsibilities and show up for their classes, so as to avoid long-term consequences for the education system.
