GFLU leader Ghassan Ghoson urged supporters to join a "labor popular" demonstration to be launched at 10 a.m. Wednesday from Beirut's Barbir Square, progress across the Korniche Mazraa thoroughfare and end up at the Central Bank headquarters in Hamra street, rejected a pay raise adopted by the government as not enough.
The demonstration's march line, as announced by Ghoson, raises fears of possible confrontation with supporters of the March 14 majority alliance because it penetrates their traditional strongholds, especially areas controlled by supporters of Saad Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement and Walid Jumblatt's Progressive Socialist Party.
A similar opposition-sponsored strike on Jan. 23, 2007, led to serious confrontations between the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition and the March 14 majority that almost sparked civil unrest.
Ghoson, addressing a press conference, also pledged that the demonstration would only be "the beginning of serial protests, including general strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins aimed at putting at end to controlling our present and future."
However, the anti-Syrian Labor Salvation Authority, that opposes Ghoson's leadership, boycotted the strike and declared Wednesday a day of normal work.
Lebanon's bank employees union also boycotted the strike and said Wednesday is a normal working day, noting that a pay raise adopted by the government before dawn Tuesday meets labor demands.
Farmers unions, industrialists and residents of districts that the demonstration would go through also expressed opposition to the move.
Meanwhile, the union of civil aviation employees said it would abide by the strike, bringing Beirut Airport activity to a standstill from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
General Ashraf Rifi, commander of the Internal Security Forces, declared that very tight security would be applied throughout Lebanon on Wednesday to maintain law and order.
The minimum wage was increased in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday from 300000 LL ( $200) to 500,000 LL( $333) a 67 % increase , the highest wage increase ever in Lebanon, which the unions are labeling as modest
The GFLU has demanded increasing the minimum wage from 300000 LL ( $200) to LL 960,000 ( $640), a pay raise of 220%