SCC Holds 2-Day Nationwide Strike, Warns of Open-Ended Action

The Syndicate Coordination Committee went ahead with its general strike on Tuesday to press the government to refer the new public sector wage scale draft law to the parliament, warning of an open-ended strike if the cabinet failed to carry out its promises.

“We have been discussing the matter for 14 months now. The cabinet has to decide during its session on Wednesday whether to refer the draft law or we will remain on the streets,” head of the private school teachers association Nehme Mahfoud told protesters who gathered near the Ministry of Education.

The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, has called for a general strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, urging employees to protest near the Grand Serails across Lebanon and public institutions in Beirut.

Member of Association of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Mohammed Qassem slammed the cabinet, holding it responsible for the “escalatory measures (undertaken by the SCC) for failing to meet its demands.”

“We will remain united until the wage scale is referred to the parliament,” head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib told protesters.

He urged teachers and public employees to heavily participate in Wednesday's protests.

Gharib hailed demonstrators, saying: “Our endeavors were successful. We paralyzed state institutions for two days and we will paralyze them for a longer period.”

Mahfoud added that officials “are wasting time but (the SCC) will not back down.”

But the general strike staged failed to attain the approval of the Catholic Schools as it announced on Monday that it will not close its doors.

However, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported that several Catholic Schools have committed to the strike on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mahfoud told VDL (100.5) that Prime Minister Najib Miqati “has to set a date to refer the new wage scale to the parliament.”

He criticized the premier, wondering if “strike will not lead to any results, then what would?”

Miqati said in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Tuesday that “all obstacles can be resolved calmly and through dialogue... Escalating the measures and making stubborn endeavors will only complicate the issue.”

He pointed out that the SCC has the right to express its opinion, however, he said that the “cabinet is responsible for the financial stability (of the country) and it can't take any risks without thoroughly examining all measures.”

The premier hoped that the SCC doesn't have “any hidden goals behind its strikes.”

The procrastination of the government in finding sources to fund the new scale has deepened the gap with the SCC, which is accusing the government of negligence over its failure to meet its demands.

However, the cabinet argues that it's delaying the issue to thoroughly discuss plans to boost the treasury's revenue to cover the expenses of the salaries boost.

The state treasury will have more than $1.2 billion to cover as there are over 180,000 public sector employees including military personnel.

Earlier this year, the cabinet approved the new salaries scale for public employees.

The wages increase will be retroactive from July 1, 2012.