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 — Land transport unions head Bassam Tleis on Monday announced that the unions would delay a strike set for June 23 and aimed at protesting the deteriorating living conditions of the public transport drivers as the date coincides with parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister-designate and school students’ official exams.
Here’s what we know:
• Tleis also told L’Orient Today that the strike was postponed on the back of a promise from the Interior Ministry to implement certain clauses from an agreement reached with Prime Minister Najib Mikati in October 2021. According to Tleis, the Interior Ministry is set to go after cars bearing forged plate numbers and private vehicles working in the public transport sector, such as the ridesharing company Bolt.
• Commenting on the impact of the start of official school exams on the decision to postpone, Tleis said,. “In the interest of our children and country, and taking into account the situation, I propose to postpone the strike on Thursday, June 23, provided that the unions hold a meeting on Wednesday, June 29, to take the appropriate decision.”
• President of the General Labor Union, Bechara al-Asmar, said in a press conference today that “fuel prices have risen many times, which has negatively affected all groups of the Lebanese people.”
• Diesel and gasoline prices continue to rise while the national currency has lost over 90 percent of its value. According to the Central Administration of Statistics, transportation was the economic sector that showed the highest annual inflation increases at 515.36 percent, followed by water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 445.18 percent.
• On Feb. 3, Tleis announced the cancellation of the remaining two days of a three-day transport workers’ strike. At the time, Tleis said,“We will move towards steps of a different nature because our problem is with the government,” without specifying the nature of these steps.