Mahfoud Warns: SCC to Paralyze School Year

Head of the syndicate of private schools teachers in Lebanon Nehme Mahfoud warned on Thursday that the Syndicate Coordination Committee will paralyze the academic year if politicians didn't wrap up the crisis of the new wage scale soon.

He stressed during a protest held in Beirut's Riad al-Solh square and in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that after a four-year suffering, the SCC will not back down on its demands.

Mahfoud revealed that the SCC will hold a wide rally on May 6, expecting it to include all state institutions.

He also called on the parliament to meet and abide by the urgent legislation to endorse important draft-laws.

“We are righteous,” Mahfoud said.

He also urged Speaker Nabih Berri to put the wage scale on the agenda of the parliamentary session while taking into consideration the reservations of the SCC.

The SCC called two days ago for a strike on Thursday, considering it the start of a series of steps that will be announced consecutively.

The syndicate said in its statement that a central demonstration will be held on May 6 in the capital Beirut, blaming politicians for the delay in resolving the crisis.

In March, the SCC, which is a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, staged a rally near the Ministry of Education in Beirut's UNESCO area over the ongoing procrastination by officials to resolve the wage hike dispute.

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.

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 few years to ask for the wage hike.

H.K.

G.K.