This march, approved by the exceptional National Administrative Authority of the labor organization, was a protest against what the authority considered a “barbaric assault on the organization’s headquarters by supporters of the government.” This occurred after a number of supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied earlier staged a protest in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian General Labor Union against its leadership, demanding that Saied freeze the union. This followed a transport sector strike that paralyzed movement across the country, according to a Sputnik correspondent.
The labor organization is threatening to carry out a general strike in light of what it considers an unprecedented disruption of social dialogue, an attack on union rights, and a defamation of unionists by the authorities.
It is noteworthy that the Tunisian General Labor Union is experiencing internal division and criticism of its central leadership. The union opposition is demanding an extraordinary conference to elect a new national executive office to steer the organization away from division and internal conflicts.
The Tunisian General Labor Union, founded in 1946 and comprising more than 700,000 members, is one of the most prominent actors in the political and social scenes in Tunisia. Since its inception, it has fought against French colonialism and various ruling regimes, continuing into the post-2011 revolution era.
