AMMAN — The Independent Association of Public Drivers called for a comprehensive and
open strike starting on Tuesday in protest against the ramifications of a hike
in the prices of oil derivatives on the public transport sector. But the group
will take a couple of days, as Jordan mourns the victims of the Aqaba gas leak.
اضافة اعلان
The call, which came two days before the scheduled
strike, came through the association’s Facebook page.
Association chief Suliman Al-Siryani told
Jordan
News that the strike on its first day received a response from drivers of
public vehicles, with up to 80 percent of drivers heeding to the call in the
south, 60 percent in the north. But the weakest was in central Jordan,
including the capital Amman.
With such a response, he said pointed to the
likelihood of escalating steps up to announcing a hunger strike.
But he added,
“because of the unfortunate incident that occurred in the city of Aqaba, in
which several public vehicle drivers and other citizens were killed, a meeting
will be held between today and tomorrow for the executive council to discuss
and set a new date for the strike”.
“We addressed the Ministry of Transport in an
official letter on June 5, but there was no response,” he added, referring to
contacts the association made before announcing its strike.
He explained that although the association organized
several one-day strikes on June 12, 16, and 20, allowing a legal deadline
before escalating its measures through strikes, it received no government
response.
The drivers are seeking government subsidies on fuel
and reducing wages for transport users in conjunction with the reduction of the
prices of oil derivatives on public transport.
Ali Odaibat, the
spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, told
Jordan News that the Land
Transport Regulatory Commission is responsible for deciding on the drivers’
demands. He said the association is not recognized by the ministry.
Dr Abla Wishah, the commission’s spokesperson, could
not be immediately reached for comment.
Mahmoud, an Amman public transport bus driver on the
Sweileh line, said “the rise in the prices of oil derivatives has hurt us a
lot”.
“This affects our only source of livelihood, and
nobody feels with us,” added the driver, who declined to be identified further.
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