Local staff members employed the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) announced they have organized an open strike and are demanding to be paid in U.S. dollars.

The head of the worker’s committee, Nyanchol Chol, told Radio Tamazuj that about 390 workers, including 12 permanent employees, went on strike earlier this week. She said because of rising costs in living conditions, the staff members need to be paid in dollars.

“The local staff went on strike because the UNISFA has refused to meet their demands,” she said. “The local staff are not paid in dollars, according to the UN.”

The Sudan Tribune reported that an additional 250 Sudanese staff employed by UNISFA plan to go on strike for the same reason. Those staff members include 55 permanent workers and 90 temporary workers in Kadugli and Diffra, along with more than 100 workers in Khartoum.