Teachers ready to stage massive strike [Archives:2006/925/Front Page]

SANA'A, March 1 ) The Teachers and Educational Vocations Syndicates insist that the Minister of Education and the Cabinet fulfill their demands and improve teachers' living standards. Thousands of teachers throughout Yemen claimed they have been put down and lost many entitlements they received under the Teachers Law due to applying the new wage strategy.

In a statement issued three days ago, the two syndicates expressed concern over the Minister of Education's statement rejecting any work nature allowances for teachers. He wanted the demand to be delayed until completing the first phase of the new wage strategy.

Both syndicates confirmed that they will continue staging peaceful demonstrations to concerned governmental bodies. They plan to organize a massive strike March 14, calling on teachers to hang red signs if the Cabinet does not respond to their demands.

Over the past few months, both syndicates organized mass protests throughout the republic against applying the new wage strategy, which they consider unfair. They visited teachers in the educational field insisting they be ready for a massive strike until the government meets their demands.

Teachers' representatives said promises to improve teachers' earnings under the new wage strategy still are ambiguous since tackling infringements costs for a long time, coupled with an untold deadline for completing the strategy's first stage. The syndicates' demands include setting timetables for completing Wage Law stages.

The government seems to be indifferent to the teachers' demands, indicating that the educational year's remaining days will not pass easily, particularly as teachers are ready to protest and confront any pressure or threats by authorities. Authorities have attempted to hamper any protests staged by teachers.

Teachers and education workers suffer a hard living due to low salaries and skyrocketing commodities prices in the country. The two syndicates called on Parliament to fulfill its pledges to teachers, as well as be responsible for the consequences if their demands remain unmet.
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