The Daily Star - Teachers’ unions plan June 21 protest - June 10, 2011

BEIRUT: A group of teachers’ unions will stage a demonstration later this month to protest against the ongoing political vacuum in the country.

The decision for the demonstration was adopted during a general meeting at the headquarters of the Association of the Lebanese University Teachers.

“The Unions Coordination Committee has organized a demonstration on June 21 at Riad al-Solh Square to demand the reactivation of state institutions and protest against the ongoing political vacuum in the country,” the group said in a statement.

Last month, teachers staged a nationwide strike to pressure politicians to speed up Cabinet formation and warned of further demonstrations by uniting many other unions in the country.

Following the meeting Thursday, the committee requested meetings with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, to explain the difficulties faced by various communities in the country, because of the vacuum in the executive branch, which has lasted since the government collapsedin January.