The General Teachers' Union of Libya announced that all schools in the country would be going on a general strike, effective Sunday, September 27, 2026. This move is a continuation of their protests calling for improved conditions for teachers and addressing several demands related to salaries, dues, and job rights. The decision was made after a meeting between representatives of the local unions and a representative of the outgoing Unity Government on Saturday.
The meeting discussed the possibility of ending the sit-in that teachers started on September 13, 2026, which coincided with the start of the new academic year. However, the teachers' representatives emphasized that the sit-in would not be lifted until official decisions were issued and their demands started being implemented on the ground. The union stated that four main demands were the focus of the discussion during the meeting.
These demands include improving living conditions and raising salary levels, providing comprehensive health insurance for teachers and their families, activating laws and legislation that ensure teachers' rights and preserve their dignity, and disbursing differences in Law No. 4, which are files that teachers demand be addressed. The union also announced that teachers in schools in the regions of Zamzam, Wadi By, and Abunajim are participating in the strike.
This participation, according to the union, comes to confirm the unity of the union's ranks and to support the protest movement in various municipalities. The General Teachers' Union emphasized that the strike includes schools in all parts of Libya and comes as a continuation of the demand to implement the announced demands, not just relying on pledges or promises.
According to the union, a government representative requested that the teachers' representatives lift the sit-in. However, the union stated that the teachers insisted on the necessity of issuing official decisions and starting to implement some demands before taking any steps in this regard. The union stressed in its latest statement that the strike would continue until the actual response to the demands and taking clear and tangible measures regarding their implementation.
This labor movement comes at a time when demands continue to improve the education sector's conditions, with teachers insisting on addressing financial, legislative, and health files related to their rights. The union's move indicates the teachers' determination to push for their demands to be met.
The strike's impact on the education sector and the country's overall situation remains to be seen. The government's response to the teachers' demands will likely play a significant role in determining the strike's outcome. For now, it appears that the strike will continue until a resolution is reached.
Key points
- The Libyan teachers' union has started a nationwide strike to demand better salaries and rights.
- The strike includes schools in all parts of Libya and comes as a continuation of the demand to implement the announced demands.
- The union insists that the strike will continue until the actual response to the demands and taking clear and tangible measures regarding their implementation.
