RAMALLAH, September 10, 2013 (WAFA) – The Union of Public Employees decided Tuesday to start a work stoppage program in protest against government failure to pay cost of living increments.

The union decided in its meeting to call for a general strike for all civil servants on Sunday, which will escalate to Sunday and Monday on the following two weeks if no progress is made.

It also decided to call for an open strike beginning October 5 if the government does not pay the 2.75% of the salary as cost of living increase.

The government already added 0.75% in May to the salaries and promised then to pay the remaining 2% at a later date, which it has not done yet.

The union has 28 other demands from the government and said that if its demands are met, it will call off its work stoppage program.

There was no immediate reaction from the government to these decisions.

M.S.