Will Jordan yield to teachers’ salary demands?

The Jordanian Teachers’ Syndicate and the Jordanian government entered a tug of war after the syndicate announced an open strike Sept. 8, crippling government schools. The strike was the syndicate's response to the prohibition of thousands of its members from protesting in front of the prime minister's office in Amman Sept. 5 to demand a 50% salary increase. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and arrested others.

An hourslong meeting between the syndicate and the government at the house of the head of parliament's Education Committee, Ibrahim al-Bodour, failed to produce an agreement between the parties Sept. 9.

The syndicate launched an open strike, demanding a pay increase as well as accountability for the police who attacked protesters. During a Sept. 7 press conference, Jordanian teachers accused security forces of strip-searching them upon arrest. The National Center for Human Rights told Radio al-Balad that it received six complaints from teachers against police officers over the handling of their arrests.

Stability and calm do not seem to be in the cards for Jordan. The government of former Prime Minister Abdullah al-Nosour agreed to the 50% salary increase in 2014. However, successive Jordanian governments stalled in implementing the increase. Minister of Education Walid Maani told Jordanian Roya TV that the pay raise would lead to $157 million in losses at the state treasury. He further stated that the money is not available.