Peru: Teachers to march Sep. 28 and strike Oct. 25

Event

The president of the Action Committee of the Unitary Union of Education Workers of Peru (SUTEP) has called for teachers to march in the capital Lima on Thursday, September 28, although further information regarding the details of the march were not made immediately available. The union also called on members to strike on October 25. SUTEP is protesting the implementation of teacher evaluations, which it accuses of being unfair and biased.

Context

National teacher strikes have been ongoing since June 15, with teachers demanding salary increases, free public education, family death and mourning benefits, and immunity from teacher dismissal and salary deductions in retaliation for striking. Instances of violence have been reported at some protests and the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior has deployed police forces to protect schools, pupils, and teachers returning to work. Furthermore, states of emergency had been declared in areas most-affected by the strikes, such as the Cusco region, which involved highly disruptive blockades.

Advice

Individuals present in Peru are advised to monitor developments to the situation, to avoid all protests as a precaution, and to anticipate transportation disruptions in the vicinity of any demonstrations.