TUNISIA The UGTT in crisis… at a time when workers need it most

Letter from a reader in Tunis

Since its creation in 1946, the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT – Tunisian General Union of Labour) has played a major role in Tunisia’s history, both after independence and following the 2011 revolution. But the crisis it is going through has reduced its influence and its ability to defend the interests of Tunisian workers.

One of the factors in the crisis is internal and external political tensions. After 2011, the UGTT became a major player on the political scene, participating in numerous “national dialogues” and agreements between various political forces. But disagreements within the organisation itself, between different currents supporting this or that party, have affected its independence.

Divisions within the union have weakened its ability to adopt unified positions, undermining its credibility among the working class, who have often criticised its leaders for getting involved in politics at the expense of the interests of union members. The prestige of the UGTT among the Tunisian people has suffered as a result. In addition, there have been several attacks on its headquarters and violence against its activists*.

However, high unemployment, galloping inflation and weak economic growth have led the UGTT to confront the government on numerous occasions, with union actions increasing in recent years in both the public and private sectors.

The first signs of the crisis appeared at the Tabarka congress in 2011, when delegates refused to amend the federation’s statutes, which limit the possibility of standing for the executive board to only two terms. As Noureddine Taboubi, secretary general of the UGTT, approached the end of his second term of office, an extraordinary congress held in Sousse in 2021 amended the statutes, allowing him to be appointed for a third term. Whatever one thinks of the limitation or not of the number of terms of office in the bodies, this was interpreted by some of the delegates as a manipulation to ensure the maintenance of the leadership. The current crisis came to a head with the call for an extraordinary congress that would pave the way for the election of a new leadership, without waiting for the regular congress in 2027.

The entire Tunisian society has been shaken by the crisis that the UGTT is going through. A round of negotiations, important for improving workers’ living conditions, is due to begin this year. What the UGTT does during these negotiations is of crucial importance for workers and the poorer classes who aspire to improve their purchasing power, which has been plummeting because of the high cost of living. Isn’t there a risk that the outcome of these negotiations will be affected by its internal divisions?

Lofti G.

* Attacks by reactionary groups, particularly in 2012 and 2024.