Tension persists between Tunisian government and General Labour Union

The governing commission of the Tunisian General Labour Union will hold a meeting on Monday to support the secondary education sector.

While well-informed Tunisian labour union sources have ruled out the possibility that the Labour Union would resort to holding a general strike, though observers believe that the crisis threatens serious political repercussions.

According to Al Quds observers suggest that President Beji Caid Essebsi will intervene to facilitate dialogue between the government and the secondary education union.

The Tunisian General Labour Union is still insisting on a change in government, in addition to other labour union demands, especially for teachers of secondary and basic education who have been on strike since the beginning of last week.

Noureddine Tabboubi, Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union said that “The real crisis in the country is a political crisis par excellence, and the ruling Government of Alliance is part of the problem, because instead of basing governance on efficiency, transparency and capability of finding solutions, the government is seeking to gain positions and quotas.”

READ: Media sector crisis continues, entering decisive phase

In statements which were broadcast on Tunisian Radio, Tabboubi added: “The Tunisian government has to find results and solutions to the top priorities and social problems and rather than implement the International Monetary Fund’s binding schemes.”

He pointed out that “the government is seeking to engage the worker organisation in a conflict with the people and students’ parents to cover up its failure and inability to solve the major files and to face corruption and tax evaders.”

Tabboubi stressed that his organisation stands with the educators in their demands and the demands of all the marginalized classes and is today more determined to defend the rights of the public and private sectors.

Regarding the Prime Minister’s calls for the educators to resume classes next Monday and his confirmation of the government’s commitment to holding the dialogue on the same day, Tabboubi said that he was waiting for the prime minister to send a message to calm to the educators. However, “the Prime Minister’s tone was intimidating and threatening.”

He added: “The Union will not get involved in any clash with the people because of the demands of the secondary education sector and that the worker organisation will know how to make the academic year successful.” He pointed out that “the government’s goal behind escalating the crisis of secondary education is to guarantee the upper hand in relation to major reforms and is part of its submission to external dictates,” as he put it.

For his part, Assistant Secretary-General of The Tunisian General Labour Union, Sami Tahri, explained: “that the exams will be held on their scheduled dates, and there is no Lost Year, despite the efforts of the Minister of Education and the government to thwart the academic year.”

Tahri said in statements on Sunday, that “saying that the Minister of Education and the government are seeking to thwart the academic year is not a false accusation. What justifies it is the government’s refusal to hold a dialogue and the minister’s inability to solve the crisis, which requires, according to him, “not only changing the minister but changing the whole government.”