Bamako, Mali - The strike action, commenced Saturday by members of the National Union of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Mali (SYNESUP), continued Tuesday, paralyzing activities at the University of Bamako and other schools across the country, PANA noted. SYNESUP urged the teachers to embark on a second wave of strike following the failure of negotiations between it and the government. SYNESUP is demanding, among other things, a review of salaries for the teachers in line with salaries paid in other countries in the sub-region.

The union is also demanding the immediate cancellation of taxes on wage bonuses of university teachers and the immediate cessation of levies, described as 'arbitrary', under the compulsory health insurance scheme (AMO), to which Malian civil servants have been subjected since last November.

SYNESUP called off an earlier strike last August, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the government to enable parties to the dispute to complete the academic programme and year at the request of the President Amadou Toumani Toure.

Pana 23/03/2011