[DR1] Offer to end UASD strike

[NewsWhore]

The government is stepping in to put an end to the strike that is affecting around 150,000 students at the state university, the UASD (Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo). Higher Education Minister Ligia Amada Melo has put a generous government offer on the table. She says the government is offering to increase UASD professors and employees' wages by 20% as of January 2007 in order to encourage them to end the teaching strike. UASD professors and teachers already have one of the top benefits packages in the country. The government also accepted a 50% increase in travel and subsistence allowances for professors who travel to the provinces to teach. In addition, the government has agreed to increase its contribution to the UASD employees and teachers' medical plan. The government also accepted to formalize the appointment process for teachers hired at the UASD. The striking Federation of Associations of Professors of the UASD (Faprouasd) and the Federation of University Employees (Asodemu) are to meet on Tuesday to study the government offer. Present during the announcement of the government offer were UASD rector Roberto Reyna, the president of Faprouasd Hector Sanchez and the secretary general of Asodemu, Angel Osiris Ruiz. They told the press that they consider the announcement as a positive step in the negotiations, and that they hoped to have a decision on Tuesday.

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