Summary:

On 7 September 2024, the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) decided to organize a general strike in the public sector and civil services, but it has not yet announced the date. 

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The decision to strike was the outcome of last week’s three-day National Council meeting. The Union stated that the strike aims to call for the right to negotiate the implementation of previous agreements with the government and for the respect of syndical rights. 

During the National Council, Sami Tahri, the spokesperson of the UGTT, threatened various forms of struggle, including sectorial and regional strikes, if the government continued to block negotiations, 

The Union also decided against boycotting the presidential election while still criticizing the repression of candidates, journalists and syndicalists. The Union said this repression makes the current conditions not appropriate for holding elections. 

Previously on 4 September, the Secretary General of the Post Office’s general federation under the UGTT, declared that postal workers will be on strike on 24 and 25 September 2024. 

Outlook: 

Tensions between the UGTT and the government are likely to increase social unrest as the state is back-tracking on previous agreements concerning salary increases, employment and work conditions.  

Although implementing the strike will take time to organize, announcing the decision to strike prior to the election is a blow against the President. By choosing not to boycott the election and by recalling that the state is responsible for blocking negotiations, the UGTT is mobilizing its electoral base to vote against Kais Saied. 

The Union risks being targeted by the demonizing rhetoric of the President and his supporters and being blamed for sparking instability in the country. 

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