After electricity, there is no communication. Every time the Lebanese believe they have hit rock bottom, they discover there is another level beneath it. Yesterday, the country lived without communication because there is a power that has become convinced of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh's theory that "people will get used to it." Just as they have "gotten used to" the plunder of their deposits and living without electricity, it will not be difficult for them to "get used to" living without communication, and perhaps even to return to using carrier pigeons.
The open strike by "Ogero" employees since Tuesday shows no signs of ending, as they refuse to lift the strike after meeting yesterday with Minister of Communications Johnny Qarm until their demands are met. Meanwhile, Lebanese citizens and residents suffered from a communication breakdown, which paralyzed many exchanges and halted cellular and landline communications, as well as internet services and maintenance work. According to reports, this led to a partial disruption of the listening center associated with the Army's technical branch.
After a meeting held two days ago, in which Qarm hinted at seeking the army's help to open exchanges, the "Ogero" union received an invitation to a four-hour meeting yesterday, which ended with Qarm, who met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati beforehand, acknowledging that the employees' proposal to correct their salaries "is not impossible," thus putting the ball in Prime Minister Mikati's court. He merely indicated that the crisis lies in "enacted laws that have not been implemented." His statement implies that he still clings to his previous position regarding adjustments in spending that fall under the purview of the councils of ministers and representatives, whether through budget approval or Mikati's exceptional approval, stating that the Minister of Communications has no authority independently.
During the first session with the "Ogero" employees' union the day before yesterday, the employees' demands were discussed based on a study prepared by the "Ogero" administration regarding raising salaries two and a half times, matching the same percentage increase adopted for raising communication tariffs. According to employee sources, "this is the minimum that can be accepted to manage the situation, especially since the average wage does not exceed 5 million lira." With the minister threatening to use the army to forcibly open the exchanges, the meeting ended exacerbating the crisis. Employees are comparing their situations to those of the employees of the cellular companies "Alpha" and "Touch," who received an increase after negotiations with the minister centered on providing them a percentage of their salaries in cash dollars, in addition to them receiving these salaries in bank dollars that can be withdrawn from banks at a rate of 8000 lira per dollar "while we have not seen any correction since the beginning of the collapse."
The meeting concluded with a promise that the minister would work with Mikati and Finance Minister Youssef Khalil to secure the necessary appropriations for adjusting and increasing salaries and improving social benefits (school allowances...). However, the belief that Mikati's promises are not implemented prompted the union to confirm the continuation of the strike until the promised appropriations are secured. Meanwhile, the Director General of "Ogero," Imad Kreidieh, stated to "Al-Akhbar" that he "will not allow anyone to take the citizen and the subscriber hostage, even if the employees' demands are valid. We will seek to reach a compromise with the union, considering that the government is unable to allow for such demands, which would certainly lead to numerous other demands from the public sector in light of the difficult situation."
