SCC Vows 'Spring' of Union Movement Amid Squabble near Vehicle Registration Authority

The Syndicate Coordination Committee slammed officials on Wednesday, accusing them of trying to divide the union amid media reports that five people were injured in a dispute between protesters and security forces near the vehicle registration authority.

“March 21 will be a spring for the union movement in Lebanon,” head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib told protesters rallying near the Serail of Baabda.

He pointed out that public schools teachers will participate in the demonstration that will be held on March 21, which coincides with a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace set to tackle the new wage scale for public employees, which it has failed to refer to parliament for adoption.

“The public sector includes millions of people... And the cabinet decides to neglect our demands,” Gharib said.

Protesters held banners stressing that the SCC's open-ended strike will go on until their demands are met amid heavy security deployment.

Gharib addressed Prime Minister Najib Miqati, calling on him to stop stalling the matter.

“Tell the people that you will refer the salary scale (to the parliament) on March 21 according to our agreement... Use clear words,” the SCC official urged Miqati.

He reiterated that the SCC will go ahead with its battle to the end, saying: “We will not yield or back down.”

Gharib lashed out at the Economic Committees and the government, considering that they are the reason behind corruption in the country.

He announced the rise of the union movement in Lebanon, vowing to monitor officials' decision day by day to prevent them from squandering public funds.

Gharib called on protesters to join Thursday's rally near Beirut port at 10:00 a.m., urging the media to cover all the committee's demonstrations across Lebanon.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said that five people were injured in a dispute near the vehicle registration authority in Dekwaneh.

SCC officials protesting near the authority told VDL (100.5) that corrupt employees confronted their sit-in leading to a squabble which prompted the security forces deployed in the area to intervene.

Public employees also staged rallies near the Serail of Baalbek and the Serail of Nabatiyeh.

The SCC's open-ended strike entered its fourth week as the government is at deadlocked on finding ways to fund the salary scale that it approved last year. But the SCC is demanding a swift decision and referral of the bill to parliament for adoption.

The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, has vowed to hold daily protests near government institutions to pressure the government.