EDL workers announce third extension to strike

BEIRUT — The syndicate for workers and employees of state-owned power provider Electricité du Liban on Tuesday issued a statement announcing a third extension to their strike, which began on March 9 and will now last until April 5.

Here’s what we know:

    • The syndicate announced in a statement that they would continue their strike and “only allow employees to enter,” EDL offices for the duration of the strike.

    • It also said that after a meeting with EDL’s board of directors, they discussed agreeing not to extend “[private electricity suppliers’] authorities under any circumstances or justification.” They also discussed “extending contacts according to the [the law of suspending terms] without any additions.”

    • The syndicate also said that the board asked for clarifications on some of their demands, and accordingly it decided to extend its strike until April 5. They also decided to "suspend operations regarding delivering fuel and inspecting the public network except in cases of danger to public safety.”

    • On March 15, EDL employees presented a list of demands which include “pricing [EDL employees and workers’] salaries using the same mechanism as that used for [private electricity] service suppliers, guaranteeing full medical coverage and insurance for workers and employees, stopping the violation of [EDL’s] authorities and permissions” and “activating contract penalties against [private electricity] service suppliers that failed to accomplish their missions.”