University presidents said Monday that if the senior academic staff strike did not end by Thursday, the semester would be cancelled.  For the past several weeks the presidents had said that the strike must be resolved by January 13, Sunday, in order to save the semester.  The ongoing lecturers’ strike began at the beginning of the semester and is currently in its 87th day.

Lecturers, Finance Ministry representatives, and university presidents met on Monday night for a round of negotiations that ended with no results.  Negotiations will continue on Tuesday.  If the sides fail to reach a deal, they will return to the National Labor Court on Monday.