Strong support seen for Palestinian wage strike

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02349488.htm

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Palestinian government employees went on strike in the West Bank and Gaza on Saturday in protest against unpaid salaries and the perceived failings of the Hamas-led government.

It was the first major work stoppage of its kind since Hamas, an Islamist militant group, came to power in March and amounted to a challenge to the government's authority by the rival Fatah movement, which strongly backs the strike.

Most schools across the West Bank, home to 2.4 million Palestinians, were closed on the first day of the new academic year, with teachers among the strongest adherents to the open-ended action, called for by a major workers' union.

Support for the open-ended strike was stronger in the West Bank, where Fatah enjoys wide backing, but was also surprisingly robust in Gaza, the coastal strip that is a Hamas stronghold.

Most government workers are affiliated to Fatah, the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been in a power struggle with Hamas since the group won elections in January.

[MADem]

1. Say, did the legislators get out in the street and pick up trash?

I read they were planning on doing that.

Say whatcha want about the late Yassir Arafat, he paid the workers BEFORE he skimmed from the till!

Of course, no one is chipping in to support HAMAS...the well is dry. If this keeps up, kiss that government goodbye, and FATAH will be back in the driver's seat.