Public Transportation unions reach agreement on major demands

Public Transportation unions said they reached an agreement on their major demands on Thursday,mainly providing gasoline refunds, tracking private vehicles working as taxis and those utilizing fake license plates, and approving the land transportation plan that is completed and waiting to be passed.

“[Public transportation] unions and syndicates have always sought to get their demands achieved by legitimate means; they do not aim for a strike”, Public Drivers Syndicate chief Abdul Amir Najdeh said during a meeting held at the General Labor Union’s headquarters.

“The role of syndicates lies in improving the living conditions of the sector’s drivers and preserving their dignity”, Drivers’ union chief Bassam Tlaiss said, adding that the syndicates sought to get their full demands.

Tlaiss said that the agreement encompassed the establishment of a ministerial committee including Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi. “The committee will be headed by PM Najib Mikati and will hold its first meeting next Monday at the Grand Serail with the participation of the syndicates’ chiefs”, he added.

Public Drivers suspended their strike that was scheduled Thursday morning, following a midnight meeting that lasted until 2:00 am between PM Najib Mikati and the two coalition leaders Bassam Tlaissand Abdel Amir Najdeh.