Latakia Port Workers Strike

About 200 workers at Latakia port have gone on strike after their bonuses and shares in the port’s profits were not paid, reported the communist newspaper Kassioun on August 17.



Kassioun said that the workers have not received their bonuses in four months. In addition, they have not received ten per cent of the port’s profits, which is supposed to be distributed among staff, according to the newspaper.



Workers blamed the development on the government, citing its continued attempts to privatise the port. They began their protest on August 17, chanting slogans such as “no to privatisation”, and “no to a return to colonialism”.



Workers asserted they were also forced to work with poor equipment. They ignored a call by the workers’ union of Latakia to halt the strike and return to work.