Libyan teachers’ strike escalates as union demands major education reforms

What happened: Libyan teachers escalated salary protests into an open-ended strike at public schools, and the teachers union later called a nationwide strike that has kept students out of classrooms. Key numbers: Protests began September 13, the day the school year Why it matters: Several unions in other sectors threatened to join the strike unless the government entered talks on a cost of living crisis. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met officials on a proposal for a unified pay system, but raising pay would require a government decision, parliamentary approval and banking procedures.

Libyan teachers escalated salary protests into an open-ended strike at public schools, and the teachers union later called a nationwide strike that has kept students out of classrooms.

Several unions in other sectors threatened to join the strike unless the government entered talks on a cost of living crisis. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met officials on a proposal for a unified pay system, but raising pay would require a government decision, parliamentary approval and banking procedures.