A store that sells Touch and Alfa recharge cards in Hamra. (Credit: Rasha El Fnek)
BEIRUT — Ogero employees will go on strike tomorrow, the union of its employees announced in a press release Sunday.
Here’s what we know:
• The strike at the state telecommunications provider was called to protest the deterioration of its employees’ working conditions. “No maintenance, maintenance or control work, or any other service” will be carried out during this day, the press release specified.
• The union denounced "repeated verbal and immoral attacks" against several employees of the office's complaints department, as well as “salaries that are too low “and the fact that employees have to pay the cost of transportation to work from their wages, which “remain aligned at unacceptable levels." The statement also addressed the issue of delays in the payment of funds, which it said prevents the operator from functioning properly.
• As the country finds itself entangled in a ravaging economic crisis, without a comprehensive plan adopted by its government to tackle it, the Ogero network is experiencing increased malfunctions due to lack of diesel for generators, power cuts and, on some occasions, acts of vandalism.
• The strike comes on the heels of the astronomical increase in telecom tariffs, which sparked outrage and protest across the country after going into effect on July 1. Many Lebanese can now no longer afford to use mobile data on their phones, making them fully dependent on WiFi, which is provided by Ogero. However, due to the severe electricity cuts in the country, even that option is limited.