From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Head of UN Palestinian agency in Gaza accuses union of ‘mutiny’ after job cuts
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Workers have seized partial control of the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Hamas-run Gaza, its head says Wednesday, accusing their union of “mutiny” over job cuts.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced last month more than 250 staff in Gaza and the West Bank would lose their jobs, after a $300 million cut in annual funding from the United States.
The redundancies have prompted daily protests by the agency’s labor union in the enclave, which UNRWA’s Gaza head says have led to security concerns.
“They have taken over the compound where my office and other offices are,” says Matthias Schmale.
The agency’s Gaza chief admits UNRWA does not have full control over the site, in Gaza City, explaining he has not been able to access his own office for more than two weeks.
“I am the captain of the ship which has 13,000 sailors on it and they have basically thrown me off the bridge and consigned me to my captain’s quarters,” he tells AFP, referring to the number of employees in Gaza.
Schmale accuses the labor union of multiple incidents of “threatening and intimidating other fellow Palestinian staff. For me that crosses a red line.”
“I am very concerned about the safety and security of my Palestinian colleagues,” he adds.
The union denies all allegations of intimidation and is due to continue demonstrating, with a general strike expected in the coming days unless a deal is reached.
— AFP
The Times of Israel Community.