Kyrgyz Secondary School Teachers Suspend Strike

Striking Kyrgyz teachers in the village of Kyzyl-Suu on December 13

BOKONBAEV, Kyrgyzstan -- Striking teachers at three secondary schools in Kyrgyzstan's northern Tong district today suspended their strike until January 20, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Striking teacher Liliya Sopieva told RFE/RL today the decision was made after Education Ministry representatives and the head of Kyrgyzstan's Teachers Trade Union, Asylbek Toktogulov, met with the striking teachers on January 11.

In December, teachers in several regions of Kyrgyzstan went on strike to demand a salary increase. The government then promised a 30 percent increase as of January 1 and the strike ended. But it then announced the salary increase would take effect as of February 1 and the teachers in the Tong district resumed their strike on January 10 to protest the postponement.

The teachers say a 30 percent increase is not enough.

Secondary school teachers earn some 1,500-1,600 soms ($30-$40) a month. They are seeking a raise to 6,800 soms per month (about $150).

Read in Kyrgyz here