Algeria: teachers will go on unlimited strike

The National Union of Education and Training Workers announced that it will continue its unlimited strike and protest at regional education authorities on Monday.

The strike reached 70 percent in the provinces of Msila, Setif and Ouargula while Tlemcen had record rate with 90 percent and Guelma with 81 percent.

The lowest rate was in Oran and Tissemssilt (west of Algeria) with 35 percent.

The Union said in a release that workers complain of the Algerian education ministry’s policy to break the strike through some education directors.

“Workers have the right to go on strike,” said the release.

According to the Union’s representative Messaoud Amraoui, the strike will continue and will be followed by protests at regional education authorities on Monday.

He said the ministry did not call the Union to open door for dialogue.

He held the ministry responsible for courses interruption, saying if it satisfied teachers’ request, they would not have gone on strike.

The ministry raises doubts about figures given by the Union, saying the strike only reached 8 percent.