UNRWA staff on strike over working conditions, dignity, not pay raise

UNRWA staff on strike over working conditions
Press TV Report by Ashraf Shannon, Gaza



UNRWA staff on strike over working conditions

Wed May 18, 2011 10:48PM
Ashraf Shannon, Press TV, Gaza

Facilities of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees UNRWA in the Gaza strip were paralyzed following an all-out strike by eleven thousand employees;

the strike was called for by UNRWA employees' union.

The workers want full job security and better working conditions.

238 schools were closed while some 220 thousand students were unable to attend classes. Also, 25 health clinics stopped operating across the tiny coastal enclave. The strike also includes all UNRWA aid distribution centers.

The employees' Union deplored what it described as UNRWA's policy of arbitrary firing and denial of workers' rights.

Press TV went to the UNRWA Head Quarters in Gaza but officials there refused to be interviewed over the employees' strike. UNRWA employees gathered in front of UNRWA headquarters, calling on the U.N agency to do its job by helping Palestinian refugees, instead of laying them off.

Some people say that UNRWA fires its workers simply because of their political affiliation.

Some 1.2 million people in Gaza depend on UNRWA for basic needs and services.

This strike is believed to be the largest ever in Gaza by UNRWA employees. UNRWA has provided services to 4.8 million registered Palestinian refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods following the establishment of the Israeli regime.

Thus, for various reasons, the employees' demands must be taken seriously.

UNRWA staff on strike over working conditions:

"PressTVGlobalNews on May 19, 2011

Facilities of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees UNRWA in the Gaza strip were paralyzed following an all-out strike by eleven thousand employees;

Press TV's Ashraf Shannon reports from Gaza



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