Cabinet Condemns SCC Action, Accusing it of Undermining State Authority

The government slammed on Wednesday the demonstration held by the Syndicate Coordination Committee in protest against the cabinet’s failure to approve the new wages scale.

Information Minister Walid al-Daouq, reading cabinet’s decisions, said: “We reject the violation of the authority of the state.”

He noted that an agreement had been reached with the representatives of teachers on a majority of their demands and “we were therefore surprised that they chose to escalate their action and hold a strike.”

“Given the critical developments in the region, we cannot accept threats against the social and financial stability in Lebanon,” he stressed.

The SCC demonstration kicked off from Beirut’s Barbir region and headed to the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut at 10:00 a.m. where cabinet was in session.

The committee, which is a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, recently boycotted the correction of official exams over the government’s failure to include the new salaries scale in the state budget.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati had previously suggested to separate the demands of the teachers and the SCC, which angered the syndicate that accused the cabinet of “trying to divide the syndicate’s unity in the country.”

On Tuesday, the committee held sit-ins near several ministries and state institutions across the country.