Bahrain Teacher’s Society president, Mahdi Abudeeb, told the Tribune, “The teachers have decided to wear black ribbons from October 1 to 10. We want a review of the increments as there is no clear picture as to who gets how much. We will begin the campaign next month and expect an overwhelming response from teachers.”
Abudeeb said he had been receiving calls from female teachers who were unhappy with the increments they received in this month’s salaries.
“Some teachers have received an increment of only BD8. They had expected more and it did not happen. Teachers are already facing accounting problems with the administration because of the summer holidays and advance payments,” he said.
Abudeeb pointed out that many personnel of the Bahrain Defence Force did not receive increments in their September salaries. “There are rumours that the authorities are reconsidering their decision on the increments for the BDF staff. Our demand is that every teacher should get a 15 per cent raise in their salaries,” he said.
The teachers have been demanding a 30 per cent hike and implementation of a cadre system. They have protested twice outside the Ministry of Education this year.
According to MP Shaikh Jassim Al Moamin, about 4,500 teachers signed pay hike petitions they sent to Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamaad Al Khalifa.
The Minister of Education, Dr Majeed bin Ali Al Nuaimi, faced seven questions during the first term of parliament.
Earlier, before the Cabinet announced the 10 per cent pay hike for teachers, Abudeeb had warned that several teachers were considering going on a national strike till their demands were fulfilled.
The teachers are also demanding overtime, bonus, promotion and benefits for the retired counterparts.
The Cabinet said the salary revision effective from this month would cost the government BD47.8 million.
The overall increase in the recurring expenditure in the government budget amounts to 3.7 per cent for 2007 and 9.5 per cent for 2008.
