RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Public servants, health workers and teachers will leave work on Thursday to take part in activities to support Palestine's bid for a status upgrade at the UN, union officials said Tuesday.

Muhammad Suwwan, secretary-general of the teachers' union, told Ma'an that classes will be suspended after 10.30 a.m. in schools and universities across the West Bank.

The public employees union said in a statement that workers will be given the day off to participate in events marking the bid, slated to start at 11 a.m. across the West Bank.

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote Thursday on a resolution upgrading Palestine to a non-member state of the world body.