Teachers' union urges PA to meet demands

The teachers' union on Sunday urged the Palestinian Authority to improve working conditions for teachers, after regular strike action earlier in the year calling for improvements. Ahmad Suhweil, secretary-general of the union, said the secretariat held a meeting Saturday to discuss demands to improve working conditions for teachers. The union is confident that President Abbas will fulfill his promises to implement more rights for teachers, Suhweil said. The teachers' union organized regular strike action in the first half of 2013 to protest unpaid salaries. Teachers had also demanded a regular promotion system, recognition of teaching as a profession, and adherence to the career ladder among others. The union will meet with caretaker PA prime minister Rami Hamdallah on Sunday to discuss the demands, Suhweil said, adding that the union will consider more action if the PA did not fulfill its promises by September.