Discontented teachers call off strike

Local school teachers have called off a planned strike to demand higher wages after promises by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to consider their demands, according to Yemeni Teachers Union (YTU) Chairman Ahmed al-Rubahi. “We cancelled the march to the presidential palace and called off our strike after meeting with President Saleh on Sunday,” said al-Rubahi. “We handed him our written demands and he promised to consider them. Since he expressed concern with our demands, we felt there was no need to stage the protest.” Teachers are demanding a 110-percent pay rise, including allowances. Currently, school teachers are paid the equivalent of between US $150 and US $200 a month, while assistant university professors are paid the equivalent of US $500 a month. The average monthly wage is the equivalent of about US $100. The YTU initially called the strike following a breakdown in talks with the government last week. “We’re demanding higher pay for teachers and protesting against the harassment we’ve faced aimed at deterring the strikers,” said al-Rubahi. He went on to complain of heavy-handed measures taken against dissatisfied school teachers, including arrests, dismissals and threats of salary suspensions. The government has been highly critical of the strikers, accusing participants of harbouring political motivations. In a 25 March statement, the interior ministry warned teachers against participating in protests. On 28 March, police were able to scupper nationwide demonstrations by striking teachers who attempted to march to the parliament building and the cabinet office in the capital, Sana’a. According to al-Rubahi, the decision to call off the strike, which began on 21 March, was taken after an appeal by students, parents and members of parliament for a resumption of teaching. “We took the students’ interests to heart,” said al-Rubahi. “But if our demands aren’t met, our protests will be resumed.” Almost 50 percent of the Yemeni population aged between 10 and 45 is illiterate, according to government statistics. The figure hovers at about 30 percent for men and exceeds 67 percent for women.