TUNISIA Solidarity with the workers at the Ritun factory!

On 21 November 2024, the County Court in Kairouan handed down a six-month suspended prison sentence to Jamel Chérif, general secretary of the local union in Sbikha (affiliated to the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail UGTT- Tunisian General Labour Union,), and a three-month suspended sentence to thirteen workers at the Ritun shoe factory. Their “crime”? They had dared to voice their demands and set up their own union to defend them.

On 16 October 2024, a roadblock had prevented – and women – workers from gaining access to the plant. The management punished them for “unjustified absence” and deducted a one day pay. And then followed a three day pay penalty because they had “protested”. In response, the workers organised a sit-in picket line and set up a list of additional demands.

They denounced their exposure to toxic substances, which cause numerous cancers and respiratory diseases, as well as prolonged strain-induced injuries caused by carrying heavy loads and awkward working postures. The lack of safety protocols entails serious accidents.

Workers also denounced unfair or disguised dismissals (non-renewal of fixed-term contracts).

At the end of October 2024, feeling betrayed by the union affiliated to the Union des Travailleurs Tunisiens UTT (Union of Tunisian Workers), which was “in the pocket” of the bosses, they decided to form their own union, affiliated to the UGTT, and set 10 November as the date of the constituent congress. Two days before, the police arrested several workers and the general secretary of the local union following a complaint from the factory management, who proceeded to dismiss twenty-eight workers because of their participation in the peaceful mobilisation.

In Tunisia and internationally, many labour unions have taken up the cause of the Ritun workers and the general secretary of the local union in Sbikha. They are demanding the reinstatement of all the workers, the dropping of the charges, respect for trade union rights and the satisfaction of the legitimate demands of the workers.

We will return to the initiatives of solidarity with the trade unionists and workers of Ritun at a later date.

With our correspondents.