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.