Head of the land transport unions Bassam Tleiss. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Land transport unions head Bassam Tleiss announced Wednesday that the unions will strike on Jan. 13 in what he called a “day of anger and paralysis for the country” aimed at demanding the improvement of working conditions in this sector. The latest strike comes as fuel prices continue to rise amid an unprecedented economic crisis.
Here’s what we know:
• In a press conference, Tleiss noted that the strike aims to pressure the government to assist land transport drivers who have been hit hard by the financial collapse of the country .
• The union’s announcement comes as public transport drivers are struggling to obtain fuel, the price of which the Energy Ministry is increasing on average two times per week after the lifting of fuel subsidies and amid fuel price increases worldwide and the Lebanese lira’s continued depreciation against the dollar on the parallel market.
• Tleiss had announced in early December an open-ended strike to object to the fact that the government had not applied its alleged agreement which includes providing fuel for public transport drivers.
• Last Thursday, the land transport unions also organized a general strike and for a short period in the morning blocked roads across Lebanon.