Honduran president threatens striking teachers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Honduran president threatens striking teachers
1 hr 36 mins ago

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduran President Porfirio Lobo on Sunday threatened to fire teachers if they continue a three-week-old strike that has aggravated divisions caused by a 2009 coup.

Teachers who fail to show up in classrooms Monday will be suspended without pay, according to the president's decree, which was read on radio and television stations. If teachers don't appear by April 4, they will be fired.

Lobo said he has the power to dissolve the teachers' unions for backing the strike.

The protesters oppose a proposed law that would give parents oversight of schools and they say the government owes six months of back pay to 6,000 teachers. They also demanding the return of leftist former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a 2009 coup backed by the nation's congress and courts.




Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110327/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_honduras_protests

[Wilms]

1. Sounds like ALEC is an exported commodity. n/t

[Catherina]

2. Good thing we got that terrible socialist Zelaya out of there ain't it? Rec'd n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Striking Honduran teachers face suspensions

Source: CNN

Striking Honduran teachers face suspensions
By the CNN Wire Staff
March 28, 2011 -- Updated 1513 GMT (2313 HKT)

http://i.cdn.turner.com.nyud.net:8090/cnn/2011/WORLD/americas/03/28/honduras.teacher.strike/t1larg.honduran.teachers.jpg

(CNN) -- Honduran teachers who have been on strike for 21 days faced a decision Monday morning: return to the classroom or endure punishments.

The government on Sunday issued an ultimatum, disseminated on radio and television, to the teachers, saying that if they did not show up for work Monday, they would be suspended for two months without pay. Those who do not show up by Wednesday, will be handed six-month suspensions, and those still striking by next week will not allowed to teach for a year, the government said.

"If these deadlines are not met, the government will begin to execute justified firings," the statement said.

The teachers are protesting an education bill that they say can lead to the privatization of the public school system. They are also demanding salaries owed from last year to some 5,000 teachers.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/28/honduras.teacher.strike/index.html