Gulf Daily News

Manama, Dec 11: A postal worker, who went on hunger strike after he was suspended on Saturday, is warning that his protest could snowball.

Another Bahraini unionist fired from his job at DHL announced yesterday he was also going on hunger strike until tomorrow.

Former DHL union head Abdulla Al Khaja said he was doing it as a show of support for Postal Workers Union chairman Jamal Ateeq, who is due to end his five-day hunger strike tomorrow.

Mr Ateeq told the GDN yesterday that more of his supporters could also join in.

He has been surviving only on water during the course of his suspension, which is also due to end tomorrow.

The married father of four, who was so weak that he could not speak and had to hand the phone to a colleague, claims he was suspended because he had spearheaded a petition earlier this year calling for a minimum wage of BD300 and other benefits for government employees.

More than 30,000 people reportedly signed the petition, which also demanded better working conditions and more perks and services, including rights to loans and health insurance.

The petition was formally launched on February 24 and organisers claimed some employees were still earning BD150 a month, despite a minimum wage of BD200 passed by parliament.

"I was only doing legal activity. Why was I suspended?" asked Mr Ateeq, before handing the phone to Bankers Union chairman Ibrahim Ghassab to speak on his behalf.

Mr Ghassab said the postal union chief hoped to force his employers to re-think his suspension, quoting him as saying that he had "made this sacrifice for thousands of his brothers and sisters".

He also warned that Mr Ateeq, who has worked in the postal service since 1977, was considering taking legal action against his employers at the Transportation Ministry.