UCC's protesters to march toward Grand Serail on Wednesday

           
Head of the Union Coordination Committee Hanna Gharib stressed on Tuesday that Tuesday’s sit-in is the beginning of a "rally to Beirut", noting that the UCC will stage a large demonstration on Wednesday at 11 am, where the protesters will march toward the Grand Serail.         

However, Gharib addressed Prime Minister Najib Mikati, calling on him to apologize to the public, since “he has signed an agreement and approved the series, yet he is unable to implement it," accusing him of obeying the economic bodies. “Make your decision; you are the problem, if you are not able to implement the agreement, why did you sign it in the first place?” Gharib asked.           

For his part, head of the private school teachers association Nehme Mahfoud noted that Tripoli residents are not satisfied with the decisions taken by the Economy Minister Charbel Nahhas concerning the retirees’ salary.           

“The current cabinet does not represent the Lebanese people, but a tribe in the jungles of Africa,” he said.

Teachers and public sector employees gathered on Tuesday before the Ministry of Economy in downtown Beirut upon the call of the Union Coordination Committee (UCC), amid intensive security measures carried out by riot squads in the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Army.      

In this context, the contract teachers at the Lebanese University announced on Tuesday that they will be participating in the general strike the UCC is organizing next Thursday to protest against the postponement of the ratification of the ranks and salaries pay scale.