Thousands of Teachers Protest in Amman to Demand Pay Increase

Thousands of teachers rallied in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday, September 5, to demand higher wages. The organizers of the protest said the government had agreed to give them a 50 percent pay increase in 2014, but never followed through.

Jordanian media reported “some scuffling with security forces,” and the Jordanian Teachers’ Syndicate (JTS) said 49 teachers were arrested.

This footage was shared by the JTS and shows teachers protesting near the prime minister’s office in Amman.

The government said it was committed “to dialogue and its keenness to interact with the demands” of the syndicate, “taking into account the national interest, and not harming the students’ right to schooling,” according to a statement cited by the state-run Petra News Agency. Credit: Jordanian Teachers’ Syndicate via Storyful