Teachers from the Association of Provincial Educators (Adep) announced on March 30 a 48-hour strike set for April 6 and 7, along with a demand that union elections be called within the next 30 days. The decision was made during a unified assembly, where teachers also rejected the authority of the so-called “Provisional Board,” which they say was appointed by the provincial government without legitimacy or national recognition.
The teachers argue that this board is a creation of the Ministry of Education and Finance intended to negotiate lower wage agreements. “They have no political or union authority,” said delegates at the assembly, who emphasized that only grassroots assemblies are empowered to make decisions according to their statute.
The educators expressed strong opposition to an imposed salary increase of four percent, calling it an insult. They are demanding a minimum monthly salary of $1,500,000 and a single-stage basic pay raise of fifty percent. Other demands include making all payments transparent by eliminating off-the-books sums and ending attendance-based bonuses. Teachers also call for urgent normalization of their union structure, stating they do not accept agreements signed by what they describe as de facto interveners.
To restore institutional order within Adep, delegates outlined a plan beginning with school-level delegate elections on April 8 across the province. This will be followed by zonal congress member elections on April 10 and culminate in forming a Provincial Congress on April 11 aimed at replacing the government-appointed board.
The dispute appears likely to intensify in coming weeks. Teachers have warned Governor Sadir that social peace cannot be achieved through appointing friendly boards but requires fair salaries and genuine union democracy.
