University employees will strike on Wednesday to demand better pay and a new council for higher education, union officials said.

Employees will go to work but will be on a comprehensive strike, said spokesman of the federation of university employees' unions Mousa Ajwa.

Head of the federation Amjad Barham expressed disappointment over the "indifference" of the Palestinian Council for Higher Education to employees' interests.

"We expected to be invited to discuss the situation and we extended our hands for dialogue, but that was met with more stalling and haggling which will eventually harm the educational process," Barham added.

Barham said employees had the right to go on strike to improve their living conditions in light of the dire economic conditions in Palestine.

Spokesman Mousa Ajwa said an increase in salaries was one of several demands by university employees which "must be met."

University staff are paid in Jordanian dinars, and Ajwa said the exchange rate must be fixed at six shekels per dinar. This exchange rate must also be applied to end-of-service payments, which should not be subject to tax, he added.

Ajwa said employees were also demanding the dismissal of the current administration of the Palestinian Council for Higher Education, and the appointment of a more professional body.