SCC Takes Demands to Street over Parliament's Stalemate

The Syndicate Coordination Committee is preparing for a rally near the Ministry of Education in Beirut's UNESCO area over the ongoing procrastination by officials to resolve the wage hike dispute.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday, public schools and institutions will close their doors to take part in the protest.

Private schools will also shut their gates at 12:00 pm to join the rally.

The SCC, which is a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, claimed that the state is neglecting its demands regarding the new wage scale despite all endeavors to resolve the dispute with Speaker Nabih Berri and the cabinet.

“The stalling of officials and the joint parliamentary committees to refer the draft-law to the parliament thwarted all our hopes,” the newspaper quoted SCC officials as saying.

Parliament failed to discuss in October the wage hike draft-law, prompting Berri to return the bill to the joint parliamentary committees, which agreed to unify the new wage scale for public and private school teachers.

Instructors had held a rally near parliament to protest the exclusion of private teachers from the raise, demanding equality among teachers.

The SCC accused lawmakers of trying to create divisions among its members.

The salary hike has been at the center of controversy since it was approved by the government of ex-Prime Minister Najib Miqati in 2012. Several parliamentary blocs had refused to approve the draft-law over fears that it would have devastating effects on the economy.

The SCC had been holding demonstrations over the past three years to ask for the wage hike.

H.K.

G.K.