> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:50:57 GMT > Reply-To: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > From: LabourNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Fw: Palestine Teachers Urgent Appeal > Comments: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], > [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -----Begin Included Message ----- > > Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 22:53:16 PDT > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Pal. Teachers Urgent Appeal > To: LabourNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > WAC - Workers' Advice Center > Jaffa 972-3-6839145 050-586198 Fax 972-3-6839148 E-mail > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Urgent Appeal 22.4.97 > > 25 Teachers Detained today by Palestinian Authority (PA) for their > role in the strike movement > > The aim of the arrests is to break the strike of 15,000 teachers in > Government schools who demand better wages. WAC calls upon the PA to > set the detained trade unionists free and enter negotiations with > their Coordinating Committee. > > 25 Palestinian teachers from Nablus (19) Jenin (3) and Ramallah (3) > were detained last night (21.4) by Palestinian Authority (PA) > Security forces, in what could be described as a dangerous turn of > events of the Teachers' three months struggle for better wages and > work conditions. > > The detainees are known to be the members of the Higher Coordinating > Committee of Teachers in the Homeland's School (HCCT) that leads the > struggle of the teachers. Sources in Ramallah say that PA officials > threatened to arrest every teacher that was found in school as part of > the strike. A meeting of the HCCT that was supposed to take place > today (22.4) in Nablus was canceled as PA forces closed the area of > the meeting place. > > Prior to the arrests the PA agreed for the first time for a meeting > of the HCCT with Chairman Arafat. However the meeting that took place > 19.4 was a failure. HCCT statement said that the PA neglected a > previous agreement on 100-150 INS (30-45$) pay rise for all teachers > as a first step for ending the strike. Furthermore according to HCCT > the PA announced to the local press after the meeting the end of the > strike in complete disregard to the position of the HCCT using its > monopoly on the Palestinian Media. > > HCCT's statement refuted the announcement of the PA and called all > teachers to continue their struggle.. HCCT announced that a Poll of > teachers opinion will be taken 21-22.4 and a decision on the > continuation of the strike will be taken accordingly. A poll in > Ramallah area showed 1070 teachers (89%) supported the continuation > of the strike while 137 (11%) called to end the strike. > > The protest activity and partial strikes of the 15,000 teachers of > the Governmental schools that are under PA responsibility started in > mid January 97. Its main focus was the meager wages of the teachers > (250$-450$) and the continuous neglect of the PA to its promises to > raise wages.It is important to note that the HCCT was formed in the > midst of the strike movement after the local Branch of the Palestinian > Teachers Union sided with the PA against the teachers. > > HCCT's statement emphasized in this respect that "the role played by > the Inside (West Bank) Branch of the Teachers Union and its disregard > to the teachers demands. HCCT emphasizes at the same time its > commitment to the General Palestinian Teachers Union inside and > outside the homeland and called for the building of a true trade union > of teachers in the framework of the GPTU in the Government schools. > > Workers Advice Center (WAC) that works inside Israel in defense of the > rights of Arab workers supports fully the teachers struggle under the > leadership of the HCCT and calls upon the PA to release immediately > the detained trade unionists and enter negotiations with HCCT. > > Protest messages are urgently needed. Send your protest to: Mr. Yasser > Arafat PA President Fax: 972-7-822365-6 / Mr Yasser Amru Education > Minister or Mr. Naim Abu ElHumus Deputy Minister Fax: 972-2-9985559 > > Spokesperson for the HCCT - Mr. Taha Nassar tel 972-2-9925277 (H) 972- > 2-9929938 (W) > > Copies of protest massages and more information : WAC (addresses > above) > > ------------------------------------- > E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: 22/04/97 > Time: 10:53:16 P.M. > > This message was sent by Chameleon > ------------------------------------- > > ---- End of Included message ---- >
