Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM4747
2006-11-07 15:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
STRIKING TEACHERS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK; RISK OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJMA #4747 3111558 ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF6021 3111552 O 071558Z NOV 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000 INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 004747
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS;
TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: EFIN ELAB PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: STRIKING TEACHERS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK; RISK OF
NON-PAYMENT REMAINS; HEALTH WORKERS TO ESCALATE STRIKE
CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 004747
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS;
TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: EFIN ELAB PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: STRIKING TEACHERS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK; RISK OF
NON-PAYMENT REMAINS; HEALTH WORKERS TO ESCALATE STRIKE
CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) REPRESENTATIVES FROM PRESIDENT ABBAS'S OFFICE, THE
GENERAL UNION OF TEACHERS AND THE PA MINISTRIES OF FINANCE,
LABOR AND HIGHER EDUCATION REACHED AN AGREEMENT NOVEMBER 6
ENDING A TEACHERS' STRIKE LAUNCHED AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR IN PROTEST OF NON-PAYMENT OF PA EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, AS REPORTED IN THE LOCAL PRESS, TEACHERS
WILL RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOLS NOVEMBER 7 IN PREPARATION FOR
THE OPENING OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON NOVEMBER 11. THE
MINISTRY OF FINANCE AGREED TO START PAYING NIS 1000
IMMEDIATELY TO EACH TEACHER AND THE REMAINDER OF THEIR
MONTHLY SALARY BY NOVEMBER 20. STARTING JANUARY 1, SALARY
ARREARS WOULD BE PAID IN FOUR MONTHLY TRANCHES. PALESTINE
RADIO REPORTED THAT THE PA AGREED NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS
AGAINST TEACHERS OR OFFICIALS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STRIKE.
2. (C) DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF THE PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY
(PMA) JIHAD AL-WAZIR TOLD ECONCHIEF NOVEMBER 7 THAT THE NIS
1,000 PER TEACHER PARTIAL SALARY PAYMENT WOULD BE COVERED BY
ABOUT USD 25 MILLION IN DOMESTIC REVENUES. THE PA, HOWEVER,
DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER THE REMAINING BALANCE
DUE NOVEMBER 20. AL-WAZIR SAID THAT PA OFFICIALS WHO
NEGOTIATED THE AGREEMENT ENDING THE STRIKE ARE HOPING THAT A
NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORMED BY THEN THAT, WITH
INTERNATIONAL APPROVAL, COULD ENSURE THE RESUMPTION OF
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE AND THE TRANSFER OF CUSTOMS AND VAT
REVENUES FROM ISRAEL.
3. (C) IN RESPONSE TO THE END OF THE TEACHERS' STRIKE,
HEALTH WORKERS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR STRIKE WOULD
INTENSIFY, TO INCLUDE THE CLOSURE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS IN THE
WEST BANK. ICRC MISSION HEAD KATHARINA RITZ TOLD POLOFF
NOVMEBER 7 THAT A NEWLY COMPLETED ICRC WEST BANK HOSPITAL
ASSESSMENT INDICATED THAT THE STRIKES ARE SERIOUSLY HAMPERING
THE PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES. RITZ SAID THAT HEALTH
WORKERS IN THE WEST BANK HAD THREATENED TO COMPLETELY CLOSE
DOWN ALL HEALTH SERVICES NOVEMBER 7 UNLESS THEY RECEIVE ALL
BACK PAY.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS;
TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: EFIN ELAB PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: STRIKING TEACHERS AGREE TO RETURN TO WORK; RISK OF
NON-PAYMENT REMAINS; HEALTH WORKERS TO ESCALATE STRIKE
CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) REPRESENTATIVES FROM PRESIDENT ABBAS'S OFFICE, THE
GENERAL UNION OF TEACHERS AND THE PA MINISTRIES OF FINANCE,
LABOR AND HIGHER EDUCATION REACHED AN AGREEMENT NOVEMBER 6
ENDING A TEACHERS' STRIKE LAUNCHED AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR IN PROTEST OF NON-PAYMENT OF PA EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, AS REPORTED IN THE LOCAL PRESS, TEACHERS
WILL RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOLS NOVEMBER 7 IN PREPARATION FOR
THE OPENING OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON NOVEMBER 11. THE
MINISTRY OF FINANCE AGREED TO START PAYING NIS 1000
IMMEDIATELY TO EACH TEACHER AND THE REMAINDER OF THEIR
MONTHLY SALARY BY NOVEMBER 20. STARTING JANUARY 1, SALARY
ARREARS WOULD BE PAID IN FOUR MONTHLY TRANCHES. PALESTINE
RADIO REPORTED THAT THE PA AGREED NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS
AGAINST TEACHERS OR OFFICIALS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STRIKE.
2. (C) DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF THE PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY
(PMA) JIHAD AL-WAZIR TOLD ECONCHIEF NOVEMBER 7 THAT THE NIS
1,000 PER TEACHER PARTIAL SALARY PAYMENT WOULD BE COVERED BY
ABOUT USD 25 MILLION IN DOMESTIC REVENUES. THE PA, HOWEVER,
DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO COVER THE REMAINING BALANCE
DUE NOVEMBER 20. AL-WAZIR SAID THAT PA OFFICIALS WHO
NEGOTIATED THE AGREEMENT ENDING THE STRIKE ARE HOPING THAT A
NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORMED BY THEN THAT, WITH
INTERNATIONAL APPROVAL, COULD ENSURE THE RESUMPTION OF
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE AND THE TRANSFER OF CUSTOMS AND VAT
REVENUES FROM ISRAEL.
3. (C) IN RESPONSE TO THE END OF THE TEACHERS' STRIKE,
HEALTH WORKERS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR STRIKE WOULD
INTENSIFY, TO INCLUDE THE CLOSURE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS IN THE
WEST BANK. ICRC MISSION HEAD KATHARINA RITZ TOLD POLOFF
NOVMEBER 7 THAT A NEWLY COMPLETED ICRC WEST BANK HOSPITAL
ASSESSMENT INDICATED THAT THE STRIKES ARE SERIOUSLY HAMPERING
THE PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES. RITZ SAID THAT HEALTH
WORKERS IN THE WEST BANK HAD THREATENED TO COMPLETELY CLOSE
DOWN ALL HEALTH SERVICES NOVEMBER 7 UNLESS THEY RECEIVE ALL
BACK PAY.
WALLES