The labour union representing more than 300 employees at Flipper International School threatens to strike over pay disparities and mounting job demands.

However, the planned strike was quickly blocked by the Addis Abeba Police Commission, citing rules that only the government is authorised to order school closures. For union leaders, the rebuff capped months of frustration over stalled negotiations on seven outstanding issues they say directly affect teachers' livelihoods and the quality of education delivered to more than 3,000 students across five campuses.

The labour dispute at Flipper International has cast a spotlight on the strains facing the private education sector, as teachers push for higher pay and lighter workloads, only to face official resistance and a ban on strike action by city police.

According to Mesfin Setargachew, the Union’s president, efforts were made to enter into dialogue with the School Administrators before escalating the matter to the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU)  and engaging labour and education officials at the district level.

“Most issues have been addressed, but two critical ones, wage increases and teacher workload, remain unresolved,” Mesfin told Fortune.  “We've asked for reasonable salaries for years. Even when the government adjusted civil servant pay twice, the School’s staff demands were left unaddressed.”

Founded in 1998 by Serkaddis Seifu and Menna Selamu, Flipper International is today operated by ADvTECH, a South Africa-based equity company. The institution has built a reputation for delivering early childhood, primary, and advanced-level programs. Over the past quarter-century, its footprint and enrollment have grown steadily, yet, according to Union leaders, the status of its teachers has lagged behind that growth.

Union representatives claim the wage gap with other international schools has become glaring. Mesfin argued that some teachers are paid two to three times lower monthly salaries than competitors pay. The Union leaders insisted that their push is for a fair and sustainable adjustment, one that acknowledges the rising cost of living and the increased demands placed on teaching staff.

The School management, however, offered a different perspective. Its General Manager, Getaneh Asfaw, stated the realities of running a private school in a rapidly changing economy.

“We don't consider the Union’s concerns unfounded," he told Fortune. "We recognise their demand, but the timing and speed of responses should be balanced against financial stability and the quality of education provided to students.”

According to Getaneh, an 18pc wage increase was implemented in September, stating that the move was above the prevailing consumer price inflation rate and part of a broader process to harmonise tuition fees and keep the institution on a sustainable footing.

Nonetheless, the dispute is not only about pay. Teachers complain about excessive workloads, noting that national regulations cap teaching periods at 20 a week, each lasting 45 minutes. According to Mesfin, Flipper’s teachers are routinely asked to take on more than 30 periods a week, exceeding legal limits and subjecting staff to what the Union called “unlawful and unfair conditions.”

According to Getaneh, the institution does not require teachers to work beyond legal hours without compensation.