The general strike in the public sector this Thursday, June 16 in Tunisia has mobilized strongly, according to the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT). It was at the call of the first union in the country that nearly 200 public companies blocked the country. A mobilization that puts pressure on President Kaïs Saïed.
With our correspondent in Tunis, Nechi Oumeina
Transport, airports, administrations and public companies at a standstill: for the secretary general of the powerful union, Noureddine Taboubi, the general strike is a real success. From the top of his podium, in front of the UGTT headquarters in Tunis, he claims a 96% participation rate. Something to bring joy to the hundreds of strikers present, like Rim Kefi, union official for public transport: “ The general strike is 100% successful, all transport is blocked : land, air and maritime transport, everyone is united “.
For her, there was no other choice but to strike: The situation in the country is getting worse day by day and no one is listening to the UGTT. He reached out several times, but without any real and sincere response “.
Increase wages
The majority of employees evoke a purely social strike, with the main demand for a salary increase to compensate for high inflation. This is the case of Adnene Belakhdher, a civil servant in a ministry: “ All our claims relate only to our work. We don’t have any political demands or anything else. That’s just our goal “.
But the success of this strike could have serious consequences for President Kais Saied. Especially since the union leader held a very political speech, criticizing the national dialogue proposed by the Head of State for a new Constitution as well as the negotiations with the IMF.