Unions and syndicates of the land transport sector in Lebanon held a meeting chaired by Bassam Talais, with the presence of union leaders and representatives at the headquarters of the General Labor Union. The meeting began with a speech by Charbel Mata, head of the Beirut Port Truck Drivers Syndicate, who spoke about the suffering of truck drivers and owners at the port, calling for "addressing the issue before resorting to a strike and closing the port."
Talais then spoke, congratulating the sector on the "achievement of the legislative kitchen yesterday with the renewal of confidence in Prime Minister Nabih Berri as President and the election of the office's board, hoping that this will mark the beginning of completing the constitutional entitlements that should benefit the rights of Lebanese, workers, and drivers."
Talais addressed the "pain of drivers and all categories of the sector across Lebanese territory, which is reflected in the protests by drivers in Beirut and the regions," questioning: Why isn't the agreement that the Prime Minister committed to being implemented? Why isn't the committee formed by the Council of Ministers meeting to begin applying the agreement? Why is there a circumvention of drivers, workers, and employees with the absurd increase in transport allowances that the state and most public and private institutions have not adhered to?"
He added: "The fare cannot be officially issued as long as there is no ceiling on fuel prices, spare parts, and the madness of the dollar."
He reiterated his support for the Minister of Public Works and Transport for "the efforts made to revive public transport; however, this effort cannot be complete unless it is accompanied by the implementation of the agreement and integration between the public and private sectors."
He addressed the issue of mechanical inspections, confirming the sector's position welcoming the Minister of Interior and Municipalities’ decision to close inspections while ensuring the rights of workers and maintaining their jobs. These workers belong in the ranks of the Traffic Management Authority, he committed to "continuing communication with the Minister of Interior to preserve their rights with the state."
Talais noted that after "consultation with colleagues to achieve and implement agreements and confront violations from counterfeit vehicles - private and fake applications, as well as the absurdity of 'tuk-tuk' vehicles, and readiness to hold general assemblies in all regions," he announced an exceptional day for drivers to express their anger and pain on Thursday, June 23, 2022, with details on the strike's mechanisms and escalation to be announced in a press conference on Monday, June 20, 2022, at the General Labor Union headquarters.
