Firefighting Department Ends Sit-in, Threatens to Return to Strike if Demands Not Approved

The firefighting department wrapped up on Monday its strike after Beirut’s municipality vowed to follow up their demands.

The firefighters threatened to continue their strike a week from now if their demands weren’t implemented.

According to the National News Agency, firefighting department chief colonel Mounir Mekhlalati and several members of Beirut’s municipality vowed to carry out the demands of the firefighters.

Earlier on Monday, the firefighters blocked Karantina road, with motorcycles and cars that belong to them, in protest against the failure to approve their demands.

They held a sit-in near Beirut’s municipality and a delegation tried to meet with Governor Nassif Qalloush to discuss their batch of demands.

The protesters pointed out that they weren’t able to meet with Qalloush.

The demands of the firefighters include providing them with a retirement salary, even after death as “their families didn’t benefit from anything while (the firefighter) sacrificed their lives in humanitarian service in this country... Particularly when they work 24/7 and during holidays.”

The firefighters noted that the Shura Council issued a verdict three years ago approving their rights, however, the competent authorities didn’t implement the decision.