RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The government employees union met with PA Finance Minister Nabil Qassis on Thursday to discuss the payment of public sector salaries.

Union chief Bassam Zakarneh said PA employees had to borrow money for transport to work but were determined to support the government against Israeli "piracy."

Around 153,000 PA staff have not been paid November salaries yet because Israel has withheld $100 million in Palestinian tax revenue as punishment for the UN's acceptance of Palestine as a non-member state.

The PA has borrowed $100 million from banks and says it will pay employees partial salaries, between 1,500 and 4,000 shekels ($400-$1,070), early next week

The union leader urged banks to pay public sector workers their full salaries.