JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Employees in public universities and colleges in the West Bank and Gaza Strip went on strike on Monday, an employee's union spokesman said.

Abdul-Muhsin Qawasmi said the current semester may be canceled since the education ministry has not responded to their demands.

The main demand was a salary increase to match employees working in other Palestinian universities.

The union of employees represents Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, Palestine Technical College, Palestinian technical colleges in Deir Al-Balah, Arroub refugee camp and Ramallah, as well as the Science and Technology College in Khan Younis and Al-Ummah College in Jerusalem.

"The ministry had sat down with our colleagues in schools and improved their salaries before, while this has not been done with the staff in universities and colleges," Qawasmi said.