Gathered around a working session, the UGTT, Tunisia’s main union condemned, on Friday, February 3, what it describes as hostile speech by the Head of State against it. For several days now, tension has been rising between the trade union body and Kaïs Saïed to the point where the UGTT newspaper went so far as to headline “ War is declared”.
At the origin of the escalation, was the arrest, Tuesday, January 31, of Anis Kaabi, a trade union leader. Detention took place in the wake of a speech by Kaïs Saïed in which he attacked those – whom he calls the ” enemies of the nation ” – who are blocking the roads and the country according to him. Anis Kaabi, secretary general of the Tunisie Autoroutes union, was taking part, with some of his colleagues, in a strike against the poor management of the company – according to them – and for better working conditions.
Financial losses
He is now being prosecuted for having caused significant financial losses to the company that employs him. The pass of arms around his case is the latest episode in a series of clashes between the largest union in the country – which claims a million members – and the palace of Carthage. After having supported the seizure of full powers by Kaïs Saïed in July 2021, the UGTT then multiplied its reservations about the path taken by the Tunisian president.
Supporters
In particular, the negotiations that his government is conducting with the IMF for the granting of a new round of loans. Faced with this escalation, the UGTT received the support of several foreign and particularly French unions such as Force Ouvrière.
