House panel continues mediation efforts to end teachers’ strike

AMMAN — In its second meeting this week, the Lower House’s Education Committee on Monday brought together representatives of the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) and several senior officials to discuss the syndicate’s demands and resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike.

After achieving minor progress in the first meeting, the committee managed to bridge the gap between the JTA and concerned officials over other issues, according to Deputy Mohammad Qatatsheh, who heads the House panel.

The MPs could not broker a suspension of the strike but the results of Monday’s meeting can be the “starting point to reach common ground”, Qatatsheh said.

The JTA, which encompasses 140,000 members, began a nationwide open-ended strike on Sunday to push the government into meeting its demands.

The syndicate’s demands include amending the civil service by-law in terms of sick leave, promotions and leave without pay. 

Other demands include investigating the pension fund’s assets and referring the case to the judiciary, implementing a “better medical insurance system”, increasing teachers’ salaries, awarding them more financial benefits and ensuring that they are given better contracts at private schools.

“Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat showed me a document stating that the issue of the pension fund’s assets has been referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission,” Qatatsheh said. “The case has been in the hands of the commission since June.”

Moreover, Labour Minister Nidal Katamine informed attendees at the meeting that the ministry is not against drafting a unified work contract for all teachers, particularly those working at private schools, but such a step must first be discussed with the Association of Owners of Private Schools.

“I will meet with members of the association on Tuesday to discuss this issue and reach an agreement before we can say that this demand is accomplished,” Katamine said.

The issue of teachers’ medical insurance needs “deep study” before a decision can be made, Health Minister Ali Hiasat said.

“We don’t mind studying this demand, but it must be investigated thoroughly before deciding on any changes to the regulations,” he noted.

Hiasat said the ministry will immediately ask hospitals to open “liaison offices” to ensure that teachers and other insurance beneficiaries receive excellent services.

These offices will be connected via hotline with both the ministry and the JTA, he added.

After four hours of discussions, Qatatsheh said another meeting will be held on Wednesday to achieve further progress, particularly over the teachers’ demands for an additional allowance and amendments to the civil service by-law.