Fuel tankers block a road in Beirut during a general strike in January 2022 by public transport and workers unions over the country's economic crisis. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
BEIRUT — The head of the land transport unions, Bassam Tleis, announced Thursday the cancellation of the third and final day of a planned strike, which was scheduled for Friday.
Here’s what we know:
• "The union has canceled the strike scheduled for tomorrow. All actions are suspended for a period of 15 days, while we meet to decide on the measures to be taken," Tleis said in a press conference.
• Defending against criticism that blamed Wednesday’s strike for heavy traffic, Tleis said that his union had specified in advance the roads that his members intended to block. "It is clear that this kind of mobilization causes traffic jams," he said, while also apologizing to the public for the inconvenience.
• "We will move towards steps of a different nature because our problem is with the government," he said without specifying the nature of these steps.
• On Wednesday morning, a modest number of drivers demonstrated across the country to protest against the deteriorating living and working conditions caused by the unprecedented collapse in the country, and inaction from politicians to provide aid to the transport sector.
• The strike, which was meant to continue on Thursday and Friday, only took place on Wednesday as Tleis, who is affiliated with the Amal Movement, said he wanted to give the government a chance to work on the reforms demanded by his sector.