A series of strikes shook the Education Sector

The education sector is recently experiencing troubles due to the repeated strikes. Many trade unions called for strikes in the coming days.
In a statement released on Wednesday December 15th, the secondary school teachers’ trade union called to a protest action outside the supervision ministry headquarters on December 28th, at 11 am.
This action is part of the decisions of the Administrative Commission of the Education Sector (UGTT), which decided among other things, a national strike on January 27th, 2011. As to the National Administrative Commission of the basic education trade union, which met last week, it called for a general strike for the sector on January 26th, 2011.
By this action, teachers claim the reinstatement of their colleagues arrested during the events of the mining basin, the increase in the grant paid in the beginning of the academic year as well as the satisfaction of other demands concerning the profession.
In the same statement, the commission expressed its rejection of the Pensions Act, which provides for the increase of the retirement age. It also expressed its commitment to Article 10 of the internal rules of the Tunisian Labor Union (UGTT) which provides the limitation of the consecutive mandates within its central executive office to two.
It is worth reminding that this article which does not apply to other bodies such as the directions of regional trade unions and general trade unions created for the last few months a fierce internal controversy within the UGTT.
A majority would have backed out of the administrative commission to suggest its amendment to the next national council convened in February 2011.