SCC Warns Miqati as Parents' Committees Say Will Stop Paying Schooling Fees

The Syndicate Coordination Committee warned on Tuesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati of not including the new wage scale on the session's agenda, considering that the cabinet doesn't represent the Lebanese people.

“It will be their end if they don't include the matter on Wednesday's cabinet session agenda,” head of the private school teachers association Nehme Mahfoud told protesters gathered near the Ministry of Economy in Downtown Beirut.

On day eight of its open-ended strike, the SCC vowed that public and private school teachers and employees will march to Beirut's Barbir Square on Wednesday to participate in a nationwide demonstration.

“We will not leave the street until the cabinet refers the new wage scale to the parliament,” Mahfoud said.

SCC protesters will march on Wednesday from Beirut's Barbir Square to the Grand Serail at 11:00 a.m. simultaneously with a cabinet session.

The cabinet has been stalling in finding sources to fund the scale that was approved last year, leading to growing differences with the SCC, which has been accusing it of negligence.

However, the government argues that it is delaying the decision on the funding in an attempt to thoroughly discuss plans to boost the treasury's revenue to cover the expenses of the salaries boost.

The state treasury will have more than $1.2 billion to cover over the presence of 180,000 public sector employees including military personnel.

For his part, head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib hailed public employees for obstructing the work in public institutions and ministries.

He called on students and their parents to support the SCC for the country's “dignity and unity against the corrupted business men, who robbed us.”

Gharib lashed out at Miqati, urging him to “make up his stance” concerning the new salary scale.

“If you are unable to carry out our agreement, why did you sign it? You should apologize to the public and confess that you can't meet your promises,” Gharib added.

He called on the Lebanese citizens to “March to Beirut on Wednesday in order to restore the national dignity and unity.”

Meanwhile, the parents' committees in private schools announced later on Tuesday that they will stop paying educational fees in educational institutions where professors are boycotting classes.

The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, kicked off last week an open-ended strike to protest the government’s procrastination.

It has been staging since then protests near ministries and escalating its measures by forming “protest committees” to halt the work at public institutions, vowing not to back down.