Mohammed Alghurra, a member of the Arab Workers Union at UNRWA, said his union has decided to go on strike in the first of a series of activities and measures to be taken until the demands of UNRWA are met, according to Alghurra.
Alghurra added that in coordination with Gaza and the West Bank and other UNRWA operations areas, the union has decided to take further steps, including a one-day strike next week.
The major demand, the union said, is ending the reduction of services policies implemented by the UNRWA, noting that Palestinians refugees are in need of more services, not reductions.
UNRWA strike across the occupied West Bank – PNN https://t.co/n2hcuEXtX8 #Palestine pic.twitter.com/sHkdh7omO1
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Alghurra added that the union requests for a two percent increase in salaries, which UNRWA staff are entitled to every five years, and which the organization has not applied.
He noted that the Gaza Strip needs 450 new teachers at UNRWA schools, yet no full-time teachers were hired. Instead, teachers were given tempoaray contracts, which does not protect their full rights. “Classes should not have more than 39 students, yet UNRWA’s current policy is to have 45 students,” he said.
Another aspect of this reduction policy is decreasing the number of meals provided for professional training students at UNRWA’s workshops.
The strike kicked off today for two hours and will continue until all these demands are met.
(PC, Palestine Today)
