The Dominican Teachers’ Association (ADP) has called another strike beginning tomorrow. The first was for two days just one week ago. This one is slated to last 72 hours (three school days), effectively giving teachers a five-day weekend. The ADP says this strike is to underline its determination to see all teachers receive the incentive bonuses envisioned under Education Law 66-97. The Education and Culture Ministry and ADP differ over how many teachers were supposed to receive the bonuses with their January paycheck. In announcing the strike, ADP Director-General Olimpia Gonz?lez denounced plans by many teachers with PLD sympathies not to join in the strike. She deplored this "politicization" of ADP and claimed that it was part of a plan directed by the PLD-run National Palace to split the teachers’ union asunder. Gonz?lez heads a PRD slate elected to ADP last year.The strike will not affect private schools, and if as peaceful as the last one, will hardly be noticed by visitors to the DR.
