Senegal teachers' union SELS/Authentique rejects 72-hour strike

The Free Teachers’ Union of Senegal / Authentic (SELS/Authentique) has announced it will not participate in the 72-hour strike decreed by the G7 inter-union of education. The union has instructed its members to remain in classrooms and continue lessons.

General Secretary Pape Mbaye Marie Sylla cited several reasons for this decision, noting that the timing is inappropriate as the school year has only just entered its second week. He highlighted that many schools are already struggling with teacher shortages, a lack of desks, and flooding in regions such as Dakar and Kaolack.

Furthermore, the union emphasized the need for organizational coherence, stating that it had not signed the protocol being contested by other unions. SELS/Authentique is calling on the government to engage in sincere dialogue regarding specific demands, including the revaluation of retirement pensions, raising the retirement age to 65, rigorous career management, and the correction of salary inequities.