Tunisia a Revolution in Progress

Below is rough translation of a briefing paper on Tunisia issued by the International Commission of the militant trade union Solidaires.

International Commission
Solidarity and Internationalism
January 2011

The tragic death of Mohamed Bouazizi, 17 December last, was the starting point of a wave of struggles unprecedented since fighting for independence. This act symbolized, indeed, all ills Tunisia. He was a young, who like many others, he had no real job prospects and had to settle for a small job to survive.

Millions of Tunisian recognized themselves in him, and especially young people felt this to a greater degree. The event that triggered his action was the seizure of his stock of fruits and vegetables by the police under the pretext he sold them without permission. And perhaps most importantly, the fact that he was publicly humiliated and beaten by authorities when he tried to recover his stock.


Being subjected to such arbitrary practices has been the daily lot of Tunisians for decades. To avoid such practices, it was necessary to take the path of image of the ruling party (the RCD - Constitutional Democratic Rally), to bribe the mafia and conspicuously display the photo of the president.

For years, this system was able to function: the vast majority of the population was terrorized by an organisation whose size exceeded the number of school teachers, informed by a multitude of informers receiving in return a few crumbs. Tens of thousands have had their lives broken by the prison and torture.

The culmination of a cycle of struggle
This single gesture of despair by Mohamed would probably not lead to a revolution if it had not entered in the cycle of struggles begun in the mining area of Gafsa Redeyef in 2008. These symbolise all the flaws of the regime, which could not be seen at the time, present throughout the rest of the country. It finds, however similar ingredients:

Massive unemployment, caused by the frantic mechanisation of the mining of phosphates, for jobless there was no hope of re-entering the workforce in this region with a mono-industry, which once saw workers flowing into it both from Tunisia and neighbouring countries.

Corruption, with competitive examinations to enter mining rigged by the mafia in power of competitive examinations in mining, was the cause of the massive mobilisation of people, especially youth.

In the struggle against repression, Tunisian trade unionists found themselves elbow to elbow with lawyers and human rights activists in refusing to compromise with the authorities. In the years that followed, several local social explosions took place, but they also remained isolated.

In late December 2010, fear has suddenly changed sides
Very quickly after the gesture of the young Sidi Bouzid, mobilizations were held at the site and in other regions. This movement was marked by several characteristics:

1. The slogans of the demonstrations have evolved very rapidly
Dominated the early emotion and anger, then quickly have expressed social demands:
“Work is a right, work is not charity! " They are combined with democratic claims“Freedom!”, “Interior Ministry, Terrorist Ministry!”.

Gradually, the watchwords have taken a more political character, denouncing the mafia in power: “Gang of thieves! Trabelsi! Bandits! (Trabelsi is the surname of the wife of Ali bin) “No President for Life!” “Police, wake up and join the fight”. All of which are synthesised in the slogans such as “Bread, water, yes, but not Ben Ali, Ben Ali, out!”

There were no Islamist slogans to be heard, unlike the scarecrow stirred for previous 23 years by Ben Alito justify his dictatorship.

2. Multiple sectors of the population entered in the action: unemployed, unionists, lawyers, human rights activists, journalists, feminists, artists, high school and university students etc.

3. These mobilizations have affected the entire country, unlike what in 2008 with that of mining area of Gafsa, and then for other local explosions.

4. For once, the mobilizations were known fairly quickly abroad, some media being referring to Ben Ali as the Ceausescu of Tunisia. Their impact is particularly significant in other Arab countries that suffer the brunt of the financial crisis and the policies of the IMF and the World Bank.

5. Part of the international political establishment has begun to make their prudish distance (USA, European Union). The Sarkozy government and part of the Socialists have persisted until the last day in their support for this plan.

Political forces in Tunisia
The dictator gone, it remains as to how power should be exercised and how politics is to be conducted.
Before the time of Ben Ali, during the time of the two presidents following independence, a single political party, the RCD, consisted of local militias and money. The RCD party: it has been for forty years one-party state, combining the features of the former dictatorships of Eastern Europe and neoliberal policies closely linked to the Western world.

This system has enabled a veritable looting of the country by the family and in-laws of the President. He also permitted the maintenance of a large customer is seeking to enrich themselves, or simply survive by accepting in exchange, singing the praises of the regime or participating in the heavy policing of the rest of the population. All this has not prevented the RCD being, for years the official section of the Socialist International!

In this type of mafia system, the space for other political parties has so far been singularly reduced.

a) The small satellite parties of the Ben Ali regime: their main function was to convince foreigners looking for excuses to support the dictatorship, that pluralism existed. They play no role in the current political debate.

b) The legal opposition agreed periodically to "dialogue" with power, in exchange for some parliamentary seats. Most sought until the end to find arrangements with Ben Ali. After his fall, they then accepted, at least momentarily, the Ministerial positions that have been offered. Found in this Category: Ettajdid Ahmed Brahim (former Tunisian Communist Party who followed a pattern similar to that of its Italian counterpartclosely linked to France through the ATF (Association of Tunisians in France);

• the FDTL (Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties) of Ben Jaafar (advisory member of the Socialist International and who will certainly become the official section after the official expulsion of the party of Ben Ali two days after he fled the country);


• Progessive Democratic Party of Maya Jribi and Najib Chebbi.


• You can add the PSG, a short period part of the far left. It was very quickly recognized the "new-old" authorities, and defended the government established after the fall Ben Ali.
  

c) The underground opposition had two main streams:

• The Islamists have suffered a merciless repression under Ben Ali: 30 000 were imprisoned and often do not stay in Tunisia outside prison but in underground, the militants of al-Nahda and a Salafi current, mainly targets the situation in other countries, particularly Iraq.
  
  In the actions, Ennahada denies wanting to use violence, and this trend has pronounced publicly (As at a meeting in Paris on January 15) for equal rights between men and women. Under the dictatorship, Ennahda did not hesitate to work within the 18 October Coalition with the forces of the legal secular-left (PDP FDTL), or even a Marxist like PCOT (Tunisian Workers' Communist Party). This current raises fears especially among youth and women, about sincerity of its evolution on secularism and women’s rights.


• Several groups or networks, who played for years a major role in the struggles against the former regime, particularly in the context of UGTT and UGET [1], have recently regrouped under the name “January 14 Front”. The are for the most part currents with origins in Marxist-Leninist (eg Trotskyist or Arab nationalist left. The old Marxist-Leninist, and for a time President of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, did not participate in this front.


• “Green Tunisia” of Zitouni was established in 2004, closely linked to the European Green Parties.
  

A powerful social movement
As often happens in dictatorships is the social movement that has played, in fact, the role of counter power. They included most of those venturing past dozens of years to raise their heads proudly against the dictatorship: unionists, activists of the legal and illegal left, lawyers, students, feminists, artists, Journalists, human rights activists, etc.

A large number had been imprisoned and / or torture, and yet does not renounce the struggle, not hesitating not to openly defy the cops and spies who were following their footsteps. Many knew of long and complex networks which mixed pell-mell political affiliations current or past, family ties, geographic origins, etc..including:

• Associations for the Defence of Human Rights, resulting in a complex mix between lawyers, trade unionists, former political prisoner, intellectua, members of legal and illegal political organisations: LTDH (Ligue tunisienne des droits de l'Homme - Tunisian League of Human Rights); CNLT ( Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie - National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia); AISPP (Association internationale de soutien des prisonniers politiques - International Association for Support of Political Prisoners), Liberté et équité (Freedom and Equality); ALTT (Association de lutte contre la torture en Tunisie - Association of Struggle Against Torture in Tunisia); Amnesty International; etc.


• Feminist associations, such as l'ATFD (Association tunisienne des femmes démocrates - Tunisian Association of Democratic Women) mainly driven by very secular intellectuals opposed to the Islamists.
• Journalists and Internet users working through the media relaying propaganda against the regime.
• Dissident artists, like the famous "Al General", the film associations from the theater world, since 1999 grouped around a platform of cultural action and anti-capitalist alternative.
• Within this social movement, one returns to the central trade union movement whose structures, activist resources and premises, opponents to Ben Ali often used establish a base for the rest of the social movement.
  
  

The Role of Labour
The UGTT, the sole trade union centre, was the origin of the Tunisian national movement time of In Tunisia, everyone claims Hached Ferhat, a founder of Tunisian unionism who was assassinated in 1952 by the far right with the help of colonial French secret service. The UGTT is largely a child of the French CGT (), but a break occurred in the postwar period, following the refusal of the PC and PS to support the claim of independence. The UGTT was then closer to the nationalist movement embodied by Bourguiba, also affiliated with Socialist International. The history is the result of complex interactions between UGTT and the Tunisian State.

Once in power, Bourguiba sought to use the prestige of UGTT to establish its domination, where a perpetual informal struggle occurred over the direction of the UGTT between two great currents:

• A current bidding for power at times ranging up to a quasi-integration within the state apparatus. It followed a series of bribes, such as parliamentary positions. In return, the confederal leadership called for votes in elections for the party in power, and sought to curb the struggles.
• A current of resistance to power, controlling some federations such as the powerful federations education, postal and telecommunications as well as some local and regional structures.The premises of these structures were often used as a base for much of social and/or political opposition. This movement played a decisive role in strikes, rallies and protests that resulted in the fall of the dictatorship.
• In between the two, a range of positions ranging between the two poles.

To give two examples: The secretary of UGTT for the region of Gafsa was simultaneously MP in Ben Ali’s party and boss of companies engaged in subcontracting work for the mining of phosphates. He was personally involved in the shenanigans regarding recruitments in the mines for the benefit of members of his tribe. Faced with popular mobilization against this injustice, it is simply suspended Local trade unionists who were involved in the mobilisation. And to top it all, it was officially supported by the national leadership of the Union Centre, the official in charge of the case was of the same tribe as himself, and presented the popular mobilizations as the work of dangerous extremists! The green light was given and repression against members of his own trade union organization that were imprisoned and some of them tortured. But simultaneously another part of the UGTT, whose unions in Education and Post & Telecommunications [2] took up the cause for Redeyef Gafsa defendants. Finally, the centre was forced to give their positions to the Redeyef unionists n the eve of the trial, including financial support to them and their families.

The Regional Union of Tunis, as it should be, is the main inter-professional structure of the UGTT confederation [3]. Long subservient to power, it had recently switched to being critic, at least part of the regime. It is o wonder that under these circumstances, the 27 December rally in the prestigious square in front of the headquarters of the UGTT earned the Secretary General of the UGTT a public repudiation nominally denouncing the union's general secretary of secondary education union who had spoken at protests and raised hostile slogans against Ben Ali chanted by the demonstrators [4]. A sign of the times was the posting on the Union Centre the December 30 statement by the French Inter-Union clearly denouncing the regime, and supporting the unionists who had protested on December 27 [5].

After a vigorous internal debate, the majority supported the other direction, with a January 4 statement supporting the movement [6]. Then on January 11, made a call giving unions, at the local regional and sectoral level throughout the country to call strikes [7]. Three representatives of the UGTT had been nominated by the General Secretariat to serve in the first government following the fall of Ben Ali. The Administrative Commission of the UGTT on January 18 [8] and on January 21 required the Government’s resignation [9].

The Role of International Solidarity
For many years, exiled Tunisians have patiently participated in construction organizations in solidarity with the struggles for human rights, such as the FTCR or CRDLHT [10]. Refusing to retreat into communalism, resolutely secular, they have tirelessly sought to involve the militants from other countries. Featuring a dual culture, and sometimes a double nationality, and they were indeed aware a part of the fight was played in the former colonial power. Faced the close economic ties, political and financial ties between the haves and politicians from both sides, it was the close economic, political and financial between the haves and politicians from both sides, it was necessary to isolate the regime of Ben Ali with the convergent action of the exploited, oppressed and defenders of human rights in different countries.

In order to circumvent censorship, they have gathered information published documentation, , organized meetings, rallies, demonstrations, etc. They have made many contributions, along with French and Moroccan organisations, the formation of the North African Solidarity Collective which is also involved with Sidi Bouzid Partners. They have helped French unions to get involved in this fight.

French Trade Unionism and Tunisia
The links between French trade unionism and Tunisian trade unionism are old. Given our history recent links of the Trade Union Solidarity are less old. They rely on irregular exchanges some structures as clearly opposed to power since 2002, between of postal and telecommunications and since 2008 with those of education, Redeyef etc. Acceleration occurred recently at the sectoral level. In February 2011, a Tunisian trade unionist working a call centre participates, for example, in a workshop on this during the World Social Forum in Dakar.

This acceleration occurred also between French unions, with the establishment about two years ago, a collective of trade union support for the struggles in Tunisia involving the CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires, which FO recently joined [11]. Organizations run by exiles Tunisians have played a major role in the establishment of the French inter-union collective, organized meticulously our trips to Tunisia, restarting every time when necessary. Overall, French Centres, have made four or five trips to Gafsa, along with exciting exchanges in Tunis with various structures of the UGTT, the LTDH, lawyers etc... The welcome of the management of the UGTT Confederation was generally limited to the “bare minimum”. They once even refused to receive the French inter-union, declaring they considered their presence as a hostile act towards the UGTT.

Build the solidarity movement
Tunisia's fate rests fundamentally on the development of popular mobilization within the country. But the Tunisian activists in Tunisia and France, more than ever are in urgent need of solidarity from the French trade union movement. They expect us to increase pressure on the French authorities, who were compromised, until the last day, with Ben Ali. Minister Alliot-Marie even suggesting the French Police aid Ben Ali! [12].

The French government and employers are now possible to ensure that the former regime can continue to exist without the dictator. They are closely linked to the Mafia who plundered the country for decades thanks to the combined pressure of unemployment and repression, they were able to have a qualified workforce at a low price. For them all this must continue.

If Ben Ali's plane was turned back, it was only because the French government was afraid of
It avoids having to respond with extradition requests in the near future. If measures have been announced against capital tied to the Ben Ali regime, it is for the same reason, we act so these measures are effectively implemented. For activists in Tunisia and France to also ensure that the property of Ben Ali in these two countries be returned to the Tunisian people.

The link between our partners is not always the greatest simplicity. The secular left current
for the first time with Ennhada under the collective Sidi Bouzid. This made it more difficult to link with groups of young Tunisians living in France, including collective of students, anxious for autonomy, involving women, hostile or reluctant to with Ennhada. These contradictions are present in the various initiatives of solidarity and also partially overlapping inter-generational questions.

Some emergency measures
Most Tunisian organizations present in France have agreed to jointly promote a number of immediate demands. Several French organizations, including the Trade Union , have decided to support them in their approach. This platform is based on the following:

• Democratic rights
• General amnesty and the right to return of all exiles.
• Immediate implementation of freedom of the press, freedom of association and availability of means of free expression and the free functioning, immediate implementation of freedom of assembly and demonstration.
• Recognition of all political parties without exception.
  
• Dismantling the party-state
• Restitution of public property abroad captured by the RCD with, for example, the provision of Local Parisian the 36th street in Botzaris Tunisian democratic associations
• Strict separation of state and the RCD, which involves seizing the premises of the RCD, the end entirely the available the resources of state personnel, vehicles and premises, and the dissolution of the RCD cells.
  
• Purging and Repair
• Arrest, indictment of those responsible for abuses against protesters, trade unionists and political activists.
• Truly independent investigative commission on abuses and compensating the families of the martyrs of freedom.
• Freeze the assets of the family and entourage of the dictator Ben Ali, an independent panel on corruption and the implementation procedures for both national and international recovery the stolen property to the Tunisian people
  
• Measures for unemployed
• Implementation of immediate financial measures for the unemployed, particularly unemployed graduates.

• Women's Rights
• Preservation and enlargement of acquired rights and freedoms of women, including the CSP (Code of Personal Status)
  
• Establishing a new regime
• A transparent and democratic constitutional process with the establishment of a broad debate for the development of a new constitution ending the anti-democratic presidential system of 1959, the election of a Constituent Assembly and submission to ratification by referendum of the people of this new Constitution.
  

1 - General Union of Tunisian Students
2 - In 2009, the general union of secondary education had 55 000 members, for a total of 82
000 employees. Rate unionization in post and telecommunications was around 50%.
3 - Greater Tunis has about 3 million inhabitants, for a Tunisian population of 10 million.
4 - Article published in the press on 28 December 2010 and posted on the website of the
Centre www.echaab.info.tn/news.asp?id=9142
5 - Statement of the French inter-union 30 December
http://www.echaab.info.tn/news.asp?
6 - UGTT statement of 4 January 2011 www.ugtt.org.tn/userfiles/statement(1).pdf
7 - UGTT statement of 11 January 2011
www.ugtt.org.tn/userfiles/file/D%C3%A9claration%20CAN%2011-01-2011.pdf
8 - UGTT statement of 18 January www.ugtt.org.tn/fr/actualitees-details.php?id=624
9 - UGTT statement of 21 January www.ugtt.org.tn/fr/actualitees-details.php?id=623
10 - Federation of Tunisian citizens of both banks http://www.citoyensdesdeuxrives.eu/
Committee for the Respect of Human Rights in Tunisia www.crldht.org
Tarek Ben Hiba mailto:t.benhiba%20@%20gmail.com
Mouhieddine Cherbib cherbib@gmail.com
Kamel Jendoubi kjendoubi@wanadoo.fr
11 - See for example the press release dated May 20, 2010
http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article17424
See also the statement of January 13, 2011 www.solidaires.org/article34686.html
12 A selection of statements by French political officials is available on
www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article19844

In addition to this newsletter, you can find materials related to international news and material from the International Committee of Solidaires on our website at the following address: http://www.solidaires.org/article12420.html.

Note rough English translations of the original French statements can be found at
www.revitalisinglabour.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-union-statements-on-crisis-in.html

Read more...

More Union Statements on the Crisis in Tunisia

1. Rally of trade unionists in Tunis, in the absence of Tunisian General Labour Union leadership – News Article posted Echaab website 28 December, 2010
2. French unions express solidarity with Tunisian unions and the social movement in Sidi Bouzid – French inter-union - 30 December, 2010
3. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT January 04, 2011
4. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT - 11 January, 2011
5. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT - 18 January, 2011
6. Statement by the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT - 21 January, 2011
7. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union
- UGTT – 26 January 2011



1. Rally of trade unionists in Tunis, in the absence of Tunisian General Labour Union leadership
28 December, 2010

Hundreds of people, mostly trade unionists belonging to components of civil society, held early yesterday afternoon in Muhammad Ali Square in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) a rally to show solidarity with the protests triggered a few days ago in the region of Sidi Bouzid and that, following the call by the unions of primary and secondary education, physicians and public health for social security funds.

In his speech, the secretary general of the Union of Secondary Education Dr. Sami Tahri said the total solidarity with trade unionists, unemployed youth of the region and stressed the need to solve problems and find appropriate solutions for the realization of a true regional development which provides employment for young people and a decent standard of living for the populations of regions within the country."

The protesters then shouted slogans calling for the encouragement of investors in the regions, a true balance to eradicate regional inequalities for fair distribution of wealth and creating jobs for young university graduates.

Considerable numbers of police blocked access and exit to the square for fear of possible overflows.

Asked by Assabah whether Union Centre called for the rally, Association called for the rally, Abdessalem Jrad [UGTT Secretary General] was clear in his response,"What happened is just a passing cloud. The Union Centre Remains committed to its base and its national role. The slogan that were brandished have nothing to do with the Centre”. Jrad continued “The rally was not supported the Union structures and we did not sponsor it. In addition, whenever the Centre calls for a rally, a march or any movement of support, we know how to frame it.”

The gathering has not complied with the procedure required, especially with some people at the rally calling for support to the inhabitants of Sidi Bouzid”, the Secretary General of the UGTT replied: "As I said, the Centre has its proper procedures.

We are at the heart of the matter, but by reasonable and meaningful dialogue with the government, although we are a social organization and hence have a national role the Union Centre, has intervened to find possible solutions. We arrived to allow the release of most of those arrested. This is our role as a Union Centre and national actor, knowing that what happens in Sidi Bouzid concerns us all. "


2. French unions express solidarity with Tunisian unions and the social movement in Sidi Bouzid
30 December, 2010

Three years after the events of Gafsa, The Sidi Bouzid region in central Tunisia, has since December 17, been gripped by an outbreak of anger whose causes, as in Gafsa, is predominantly unemployment and lack of development.

The attempted suicide of a young street vendor, who had graduated from university, by setting himself on fire has triggered by a wave of protests in the region that have resulted in mass arrests.

The most violent clashes occurred at Manzil Bouziane where a young protester was shot dead and a dozen injured.

On December 27, hundreds of unionists of the UGTT, mainly in education, healthcare services, postal and telecommunications gathered outside the headquarters of the centre in Tunis. The demonstrators were surrounded by heavy security including anti-riot units.

The imbalance of development between the coastal and central regions is the cause of social distress in areas left behind, like that of Sidi Bouzid. The investment for job creation in these regions is a necessity, particularly towards young graduates whose unemployment rate is double the overall rate estimated at 14%.

The French trade union group formed after the events of Gafsa (CFDT, CGT, FSU, UNSA and Solidarity), supports the efforts of the Tunisian union movement to prevent the use of strong-arm tactics against these spontaneous protests.

It supports the UGTT’s call to open a negotiation for sustainable job-creating high quality and geographically balanced.

With the UGTT, the CGT, CFDT, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires require:

• end of the intervention of the police against the social movements;
• the release of all those arrested;
• not to mention the release of militants jailed in the past mobilizations in the region of Gafsa, such as Fahem Boukadous and Hassan bin Abdullah;
• amnesty and reintegration into employment of ex-prisoners of the mining area of Gafsa, and all condemned.

Faced with this policy characteristic of a police state, French organizations require the French government finally stop its systematic support to the regime.

3. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Labour Union January 04, 2011

The members of the National Administrative Commission met on Tuesday, 4th January 2011 under the chairmanship of comrade Abdessalem Jerad, the General Secretary of the Tunisian General Labor Union. The meeting took place following the analysis of the painful events witnessed by Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine and other regions. These events were characterized by spontaneous movements initially demanding the right to work. Believing in the national and social role of the Tunisian General Labor Union and in order to contribute in the development of better prospects the members of the National administrative Commission:

1. Confirm the contents of the trade unionist statements as well as the statement issued by the Executive Bureau of the Union, which include concepts and principles about the pillars of sustainable development stated in the regulations of the concerned authorities centrally, regionally and sectorally, which evolved through studies and seminars on employment and labor relationships. They also call for a development pattern that takes into account the basic needs, which is based on justice and balance between the regions, and in which the State and the public sector perform the task of investing. This is mainly due to the fact that the private sector has not reached the required level of investment in the areas of priority, despite the fiscal, financial and social privileges that it enjoys.
2. Express their solidarity with the people of Sidi Bouzid and other internal regions in their legitimate aspirations towards a better reality and towards a pattern of development that ensures justice and equality, and guarantees the right to decent work and to job opportunities that provide a minimum income enabling people to meet the increase of prices. They also call for an urgent intervention in order to repair the clear damages that touched the inhabitants of Sidi Bouzid.
3. Emphasize the need to give the representatives of the Tunisian General Labor Union a permanent membership in the regional boards of employment and in the local employment committees. They also renew the demand of creating an unemployment fund to protect the dismissed workers and provide them with an income that enables them to meet their basic needs when they lose their jobs due to the economic changes, especially the policy of privatizing the public institutions.
4. Register with dismay the action of surrounding the regional and local trade unions in an attempt to block the last peaceful trade unionist movements. This led to practices of violence targeting a number of trade unionists, both locally and regionally.
5. Call for the release of the remaining detainees, ending their prosecution and removing all forms of security blockade in Sidi Bouzid and in the other regions. The members of the administrative commission also call for the adoption of dialogue as an essential mechanism to address all the kinds of reactions.
6. Express their solidarity with the families of the innocent victims and ask for a follow-up of those found guilty in hurting innocent victims.
7. Express their support for the lawyers and all the institutions of civil society in their support for our people in Sidi Bouzid during the spontaneous movements aiming to improve the reality of living in the region, to ensure social projects and to guarantee them a dignified life.
8. Express their resentment for the absence of the national media in the recent events and for the deliberate lack of coverage of the developments in response to the aspiration of the Tunisian citizen to know what is happening in his country. This led to a media vacuum which strikingly calls for a comprehensive review of the reality of the media. They also stress the importance of promoting the media and improving the ways of dealing with events in order to develop its performance and make it capable of dealing with the substantive economic, social and political issues and of adopting courage, transparency and clarity in the disclosure of some aspects of misconduct and the practices that are inconsistent with the values of justice, freedom and equality and which may affect the substance of the laws of civil and human rights as well as the institutions of civil society.
9. Call for political reforms in order to deepen democracy and promote freedom, and to activate the role of the Tunisian League for Human Rights as an important national gain because of its role in the actual consecration of the State of law and institutions. They also affirm the need to enable the Tunisian League for Human Rights to hold its congress respecting the independence of its decision.
10. Consider that negotiation is a legitimate international and domestic right and that going on strike is the essence of the right of freedom of association. They call the authorities to negotiate seriously with the labor union of education and the unions of the other sectors and to respond to their demands which were issued by their administrative commissions in order to contribute to the establishment of a social climate characterized by stability and which emphasizes the importance of dialogue in reducing the possible social problems. The members of the national administrative commission also renew their demand of reintegrating the dismissed workers of the mining basin in their previous jobs in order to put an end to a situation representing one of the factors contributing to a tense social climate.
    

Long live the Tunisian General Labor Union, free, democratic and independent fighter.

Tunis, January 04, 2011

Abdessalem Jerad
General Secretary

4. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT
11 January, 2011

Members of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT, met in an extraordinary session, Tuesday, January 11, 2011 in the northern suburbs of Tunis chaired by Comrade Abdessalem Jerad, Secretary General,

After having carried out the examination of the situation following protest movements that occurred in many parts of the country, movements characterized by disturbances, acts of police violence including the use of live ammmunition resulting in the killing many innocent victims.

Emphasizing the need for an urgent intervention to respond to the legitimate claims of the protesters.

1. Denounce the use of the firing of live ammunition on demonstrators, that has resulted in numerous deaths among citizens in a number of inland areas specifically to Tala, Kasserine and Regueb and denounce the blockade of the premises of the UGTT’s regional office in Kasserine as well as the removal of their goods and documents;
2. Request the establishment of a commission of inquiry to clarify the conditions under which the firing live ammunition at demonstrators in the mentioned regions took place and determine the responsibilities;
3. Demand the removal of army units that have been deployed in cities and the road blocks on major roads and the lifting of the seige of some inland areas by police.
4. Express their commitment to the right of freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly to devote the legitimate rights of populations in accordance with international conventions and the Tunisian Constitution to protect public goods against looting or destruction and preserve those rights achieved through the people’s national and social struggles;
5. Reiterate their call for the liberation of all persons in custody to soothe the tension and the establishment of a national commission for dialogue on the imperatives of economic, social and political reforms that must occur in the coming period, and reforms necessary to ensure stability and peaceful progress attributes. Similarly, they call for the establishment of committees on regional and local reflection on solutions to revise the model of economic development in our country.
6. Call for the establishment of a monthly allowance to any person whose unemployment has exceeded 12 months and give support to ensure stable and decent employment which responds to an individual’s professional profile and scientific abilities,
7. The importance of conducting an urgent and serious debate on the need to create an insurance - unemployment benefit for the unemployed and workers dismissed because
   transformations of the national economy and the adoption of a policy of privatisation and closure due to industry’s inability to cope with the policies of harsh and unbridled competition;
8. Reiterate their call for the need to involve the regional and local Unions within the UGTT as permanent members of regional development councils, and local councils and commissions employment;
9. Express their support for the affected regions and their solidarity with the families of the victims and recognize the right of regional trade union structures observing movements to challenge injury they have endured with all the populations in these areas and the right of citizens of other regions and the various professional groups to express their solidarity and active by peaceful marches in coordination with the National Executive Bureau.
10. Warn against any attempt to not take responsibility of recent events that have engulfed our country, with attacks on the sectoral and regional trade union structures,
11. Express their displeasure at the adoption of a policy of misinformation leading to distorting the facts and the turn taken \in different regions of the country to inhibit the communicate with citizens with freedom, accuracy, objectivity, and reality,
12. Decide, in light of the latest developments in the situation, to postpone the National Board meeting scheduled for 10, 11 and 12 February 2011 at a later date.
    

Tunis, 11 January 2011
Abdesslem Jerad
Secretary General

5. Statement of the National Administrative Commission of UGTT
18 January, 2011

The members of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Trade Union held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, 18 January 2011 in Gammarth, headed by the General Secretary comrade Abdessalem Jerad. They analyzed the rapid developments witnessed by the country and assessed the sacrifices made by the trade unionists, the workers, the population and the martyrs in the historical popular uprising to resist injustice, oppression and delinquency. Since the members of the Administrative Commission believe in the national and social role, which has long been played by the labor Organization in the struggle for freedom, justice and human rights, they:

1. Stand in humility and homage for the martyrs who perished during the uprising of our people against oppression and tyranny, against the protection of the corrupt gang that lived in our country and for the resistance to an oppressive system based on abolishing public and individual freedoms and human rights.
2. Remind that the Tunisian General Trade Union was the first organization that alerted the Government through its studies and memoirs, and its speech to the public, about the situation of tension and anger that has reached our youth and our people as a result of the clumsy development policies which led to unemployment and poverty and created a void in the social and cultural development.
3. Stand in tribute and appreciation for the solidarity between all the social classes in order to maintain security and public property. They also stress the fact that the acts of vandalism and looting were carried out by groups who were paid by symbols of the presidential security and by spoilers from the family of former president as well as his followers and relatives. They consider that any attempts to divert the public opinion from the real perpetrators of these acts of vandalism and looting represent a kind of deception and obfuscation.
4. Call for the immediate freezing of the accounts of the former president, his family and in-laws and the nationalization of their properties and to prevent all the suspects from leaving the Tunisian territory waiting for the outcome of the investigations that will be conducted by the committee formed for this purpose.
5. Stress the need for the announced political reforms to be immediately effective, including the separation between Political Party and State, the passing of a general legislative amnesty, the revision of the Constitution and the Electoral Code and enabling all the political sensitivities of their right to get organized and to exercise their political activities freely, away from all the pressures and constraints.
6. Call for the creation of representative structures with broad powers to monitor the implementation of the immediate measures that were announced as well as the political, economic and social reforms.
7. In order to reinforce the trade unionist rights, according to the international conventions and the local laws, the members of the Administrative Commission call for the immediate dissolution of the professional divisions and their federations since they are parallel structures that clearly damaged worker relations and the social climate within the institutions of production. They also stress the need to dissolve the structures of the Constitutional Democratic Party, a party that is still headed by former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
8. Ask for reviewing the terms of the right to demonstrate peacefully in order to eliminate crippling strictures that limit people’s freedom to protest against the adopted policies that contradict with their interests and aspirations.
9. Despite the fact that the Tunisian General Trade Union is keen to social and political reforms and to the need to strengthen them, it considers that the composition of the announced coalition government does not respond to the conditions set by the Executive Bureau in the statement issued on Saturday 15 January 2011 and does not correspond to the aspirations of the workers and the population concerning real renewal, breaking off with the old practices, and equilibriums. This is due to the number of representatives of the previous government and the ruling party in the coalition government as well as the marginalization of the role of the representatives of the Tunisian General Trade Union. The members of the Administrative Commission announce the withdrawal of their representatives from the coalition government, and the resignation of the union members from the House of Representatives, the Council of Advisers and the municipal councils as well as the freezing of the membership of the Tunisian General Trade Union in the Economic and Social Council as well its membership in the Supreme Councils.
10. Reject all forms of external intervention to guide our people and to influence them because the population who managed to overthrow a President who suppressed all those who upheld the right to freedom of expression, is qualified to chart their own destiny away from guardianship.
11. Call for working to form an elected constituent assembly, through free and democratic elections, which reflects the will of our people to build a better future.
12. Decide to give an amnesty to the trade unionists whose activity was suspended in all sectors and regions.
    

General Secretary
Abdessalem Jerad
General Secretary

6. Statement by the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT
21 January. 2011
After an assessment of the balance sheet of the popular uprising and an examination of the results of the political consultations and protests at the national, regional and local movements.
Members of the National Administrative Commission of the UGTT, met on Friday, 21 January 2011, under the chairmanship of Comrade Abdessalem JERAD, Secretary General. The Commission:

1. Reaffirmed that the UGTT is a national organization concerned imperatively by political issue to its history militant opposition to colonization and the building of the modern State and given the close correlation between the dimensions economic, social, political and cultural in the development process.
2. Reminds that the resignation of the UGTT representative on the members of the National Government has been attributed to the refusal to deliver the demands of the Executive Bureau, demands expressed in the statement dated January 15, 2011. This position of resignation is based on a fair reading of the evolution of events through the claims and aspirations of the demonstrators and all the components of civil society,
3. Have noted that the scale of movement in all regions of the country calling for the dissolution of the Government and the refusal of the appointment of RCD members as Ministers within the government, in light of the many resignations and refusal by a number of parties and of political sensibilities to participate in the government, and given the imperative of a return to quiet and calm to focus on the implementation of announced reforms, the UGTT National Administrative Commission members call for dissolution of the Government and the establishment of a national coalition Government of that meets the demands of protesters, political parties, nongovernmental organizations and the united people.
4. Active participation in a commission of political reform, they decide to establish union committees to develop the ideas of the UGTT in political, economic and social reforms necessary to meet urgent need to establish democracy and to hold free and transparent elections guaranteeing freedom of choice of the voters, the composition of a parliamentary government and the freedom of information. In addition, members of the National Administrative Commission ask that the Union Centre be represented on the commission of fact-finding on excesses committed during the last period, and prosecution for anyone involved in the death of innocent citizens are engaged and that the UGTT be represented on a fact finding commission on acts of corruption and malfeasance.
5. Require all workers to act against any attempt to interrupt the normal functioning of industry and to be vigilant to safeguard assets and ensure continuity of administration and management of these companies.
6. Are determined to pursue the legitimate struggle by observing strikes or demonstrating peacefully until the recomposition of the Government in accordance with the conditions laid down by the UGTT.
7. Call to celebrate the day of January 14 as a national public holiday.
8. Speak insistently to all trade unionists and workers to work for the protection of Trade Union Unity and guarantee the continuity of the fight by the UGTT towards achieving its objectives in response to the demands of the populations. They also call for more continued vigilance to annihilate any attempt to undermine the UGTT ranks and influence its decisions in this delicate phase in the history of the Tunisia.
   
   

The combat of our people on the way of the dedication of its dignity and its invulnerability of life.
.
Abdessalem Jerad
Secretary General

7. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the UGTT
26 January 2011

The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Trade Union met on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, under the chairmanship of the General Secretary, comrade Abdessalem Jerad. After reviewing the current situation of the country and the clear and precise positions taken by the central Trade Union as well as the civil and political society and taking into consideration the acts of vandalism and looting that targeted some headquarters of the UGTT, the Executive Bureau of the Union:

1. Strongly condemns the acts of vandalism which targeted the headquarters of the UGTT in some areas. These acts remind the trade unionists, activists and workers of the events of January 26, 1978. These practices will only strengthen the resistance of the unions and their willingness to fight. This will not change their decision to continue their struggle and guide protesters in accordance with the claims of the civil and political society, and all the population.
2. Thanks all those who defended the UGTT and all those who struggled to support the historical position of the Central trade union, based on the commitment to the principles of the revolution and on the composition of a government that serves the revolution, a government that breaks completely with the old regime, works with transparency and credibility to build a better future, based on strengthening public and private freedoms, democracy and Human Rights.
3. Thanks all the associations, the non-governmental organizations and the political parties and sensitivities for supporting the decisions of the UGTT and its governing structures that, despite differences of opinion and appreciation on their performance, form a protective shield for militants and activists and remain vigilan to defend the Central trade union and a united front against all attempts to ransack the offices of the UGTT and to undermine its unity.
4. Warns against the violent turn that characterizes the situation and other acts perpetrated by militias who want to sow disorder and prevent people from showing their protest peacefully, and with responsibility. The Executive Bureau calls all trade unionists and workers to save the companies and production sites and condemns any attempt to destroy the achievements of the population.
5. Calls the President of the Republic to listen carefully to the demands of the people and the UGTT which expresses, in this crucial period, the willingness to interact with all the ideas that are consistent with the decisions of the leading structures of the Central trade union. Long live the workers’ struggle for freedom, justice, democracy and Human Rights.
   

Abdessalem Jerad
General Secretary

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DOWN WITH THE DICTATORSHIP OF MUBARAK - SOLIDARITY WITH THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE

Statement by Comité de Solidarité avec la Lutte du Peuple Egyptien
(The Committee of Solidarity with the Egyptian People's Struggle)
January 26 2011
The events of the Egyptians against the Mubarak dictatorship are violently repressed.

The crackdown against demonstrators in Cairo and in many cities across Egypt has left at least 6 dead, hundreds injured and arrested.

As in Tunisia when the dictatorship of Ben Ali has been shaken and the dictator ousted by the tremendous mobilization of the Tunisian people and especially its youth, the Egyptian people and its youth have gone to attack the Mubarak regime and shout their refusal dictatorship, nepotism, corruption and evil spirits.

This Wednesday, January 26, 2011, was launched a committee of solidarity with the struggle of the Egyptian people with the aim to gather in a hurry all the voices in solidarity to say:

DOWN WITH THE DICTATORSHIP OF MUBARAK

STOP THE CRACKDOWN, TORTURE, IMPRISONMENT

HALT STATE OF EMERGENCY AND CENSORSHIP

LONG LIVE THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE’S FIGHT AGAINST DICTATORSHIP

The Committee of Solidarity with the Egyptian People's Struggle

Committee of Solidarity with the Egyptian people's struggle:
First signatories: (Egyptian Citizens of France - CEF); (Federation of Tunisian citizens on both banks - FTCR), Comité pour le Respect des Libertés et des Droits de l’ Homme en Tunisie (Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia – CRLDHT), Association des Travailleurs Maghrébins en France (Association of North African Workers - ATMF); Campagne Civile Internationale pour la Protection du Peuple Palestinien (International Civil Campaign for the Protection of the Palestinian People - CCIPPP); Union syndicale Solidaires (Trade Union Solidarity)

TO CONTACT: Email: solidaritepeuplegyptien@yahoo.fr
Page of the Committee of Solidarity with the Egyptian people's struggle:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Comite-de-Solidarite-avec-la-Lutte-du-Peuple-Egyptien/186252268073586

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Olivier Besancenot: I know now that revolution is possible

Olivier Besancenot gives his impressions on Tunisia
International Viewpoint
January 2011

Olivier Besancenot, spokesperson for the Nouveau Parti Anti-Capitaliste was in Tunisia earlier this week to find out about the revolution happening there. Here are his impressions.

How did this trip to Tunisia come about?

It’s something I’ve never seen before. I’m part of that generation of revolutionaries which has never lived the experience. It’s the first time I’ve been through something like that in real life. I saw it with my own eyes. I love this collective enthusiasm, it’s contagious and intoxicating. As I’m speaking to you there are still thousands of citizens on the streets, in clusters, hundreds of people who are describing the events on Facebook and Twitter, trade unionists who are mobilised to demand the resignation of the “new” government. The revolution is continuing here.

What is your feeling about this popular uprising?

Revolution is a complex process which moves ahead little by little and creates its own path. The revolution is continuing because it has only one goal: to get rid of this charade of a government. At the moment the Tunisian oligarchy still has the country in its grip; the police are also controlled by them as is every sector of the economy and that suits no one here. The opposition wants to convene a constituent assembly to change the institutions and move along a new road.

So, revolution isn’t a crazy dream? Does that give you any ideas?

Yes. I’m absolutely filled with hope (laughter). I know now that revolution is possible, it’s there, under my eyes. No revolution resembles another. There is no model. When people have tried to copy it has often ended badly. I’m here to learn and to understand. I’m noting things about organisation, the structure of the movement and it’s thrilling. We too really need a social-democratic revolution.

You’ve met some of the opposition. Do you think they are ready to take power?

I’m not there to speak in the name of the Tunisian people – it has proved that it does not need anyone for that – but one of the first things they said was “it’s our revolution and we don’t want anyone to steal it from us”. They didn’t expect that it would spread across borders.

And you?

I’d answer by quoting Ken Loach: “revolutions are always contagious.” What happened in Egypt yesterday and has been happening for a few days in Algeria is extremely important.

Do you hope to to go Egypt in the next few days?

I’m not a revolutionary tourist (laughter) and am not on a pilgrimage. I came to Tunisia at the request of my comrades whom I’ve been in touch with since the start of the movement. We had simply agreed that I would visit at an appropriate time. I’m in touch with people in Egypt of course. We’ll see what attitude we should take. However our job in France is to fight against our own government and our own imperialism. It’s obviously not the right that’s going to do that.

And the left?

The Socialist Party won’t do anything anymore. Let me remind you that a few days ago Ben Ali was part of the Socialist International and that it was the present government which covered his regime.

What do people in Tunisia think of France’s attitude?

They are very angry. Sarkozy’s excuses are waffle. No one here believes him. I’ve explained that not everyone in France supported the government and all its actions. I’ve heard the French media criticise the government’s hesitancy but it’s much worse than that – it is active, concrete, economic and financial complicity.

And are they asking anything from France?

They don’t have any intention of living in a dictatorship, that’s for sure. They are not expecting anything from the French government. They have been disappointed and will ask for nothing
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-Olivier Besancenot is the best-known spokesperson of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), formed in 2009 following a call by the Revolutionary Communist League (Ligue communiste révolutionnaire (LCR), French section of the Fourth International). As candidate for the LCR in the presidential elections in 2002 and 2007, he received 1.2 million votes (4.5%) and 1.5 million votes (4.2%) respectively.

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Tunisia: UGTT Demands Dissolution of Government

The Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT)
Published on MRZine on January 23 2011

1. The General Union of Tunisian Workers is a national organization necessarily interested in political affairs, given its history of struggle during the colonial epoch and the period of the construction of the modern state, considering the dialectical links among economy, society, politics, and culture in the process of development, but out task has become more urgent than ever.

2. The UGTT National Administrative Commission recalls that the withdrawal of UGTT ministers from the government is due to the government's failure to respond to the conditions set by the UGTT Executive Office in its 15 January 2011 statement, a position whose correctness has been proven and which corresponds to the demands of masses of demonstrators and the rest of the civil and political society.

3. In view of massive demonstrations across the country demanding the dissolution of the government and rejecting the participation of RCD representatives in it; also in view of numerous resignations in response to the rejection by various political parties and currents; and because of the urgent need to restore the confidence of all in order to proceed to the effective preparation for the reforms that have been announced; the members of the UGTT National Administrative Commission demand the dissolution of the government and the establishment of a "national salvation" coalition government which responds to the demands of demonstrators, political parties, associations, NGOs, and all the people.

4. The National Administrative Commission decides, with a view to effectively taking part in a commission for political reforms, to create trade union committees composed of experts and specialists to work out UGTT proposals on political, economic, and social reforms necessary for the establishment of democracy, as well as transparent elections to ensure the freedom of choice, to lay the foundations for a parliamentary government, and to permit dissemination of accurate information. Moreover, the UGTT demands that members of its National Administrative Commission be represented in the commission of inquiry on the killings of innocent citizens during demonstrations, to bring those responsible for them to justice, and be also represented in the commission of inquiry on corruption and other crimes.

5. The UGTT calls upon all workers to oppose all attempts to disrupt the normal functioning of institutions and to obstruct their return to normal activity, as well as to be on guard in defense of our achievements and to ensure the continuation of necessary mechanisms for the management and conduct of daily functions, in order to preserve the vital interests of the people and to avoid the vacuum that does lasting damage to workers and citizens.

6. The UGTT reaffirms its commitment to continue to wage the legitimate struggle, whether by striking or demonstrating peacefully, until the government is restructured according to the conditions set by the UGTT, which correspond to the demands of all segments of the political spectrum as well as of the people.

7. The UGTT demands that the 14th of January be proclaimed as national holiday, for the public and private sectors, for civil service, and for all the sectors of people.

8. The UGTT urgently appeals to all trade unionists and workers to preserve the unity of their organization in order to ensure the continuity of the struggle and achieve the workers' demands, in interaction with the demands of protesters and the general public, and to remain vigilant against all attempts to split our ranks and to divide the unity of our decisions at this sensitive stage in the history of our country.

Long live the struggle of our brave people on the path to dignity in Tunisia.

Tunis, 21 January 2011
Secretary General
Abdulsalam Jarad


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The original statement in Arabic was published on the UGTT Web site: . A summary French translation is available at , and a summary Spanish translation at .

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Tunisia: Statement of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Union of Labor

Statement of the National Administrative Commission
Tunisian General Union of Labor

The members of the National Administrative Commission of the Tunisian General Trade Union held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, 18 January 2011 in Gammarth, headed by the General Secretary comrade Abdessalem Jerad. They analyzed the rapid developments witnessed by the country and assessed the sacrifices made by the trade unionists, the workers, the population and the martyrs in the historical popular uprising to resist injustice, oppression and delinquency. Since the members of the Administrative Commission believe in the national and social role, which has long been played by the labor Organization in the struggle for freedom, justice and human rights, they:

1 - Stand in humility and homage for the martyrs who perished during the uprising of our people against oppression and tyranny, against the protection of the corrupt gang that lived in our country and for the resistance to an oppressive system based on abolishing public and individual freedoms and human rights.

2 - Remind that the Tunisian General Trade Union was the first organization that alerted the Government through its studies and memoirs, and its speech to the public, about the situation of tension and anger that has reached our youth and our people as a result of the clumsy development policies which led to unemployment and poverty and created a void in the social and cultural development.

3 - Stand in tribute and appreciation for the solidarity between all the social classes in order to maintain security and public property. They also stress the fact that the acts of vandalism and looting were carried out by groups who were paid by symbols of the presidential security and by spoilers from the family of former president as well as his followers and relatives. They consider that any attempts to divert the public opinion from the real perpetrators of these acts of vandalism and looting represent a kind of deception and obfuscation.

4 - Call for the immediate freezing of the accounts of the former president, his family and in-laws and the nationalization of their properties and to prevent all the suspects from leaving the Tunisian territory waiting for the outcome of the investigations that will be conducted by the committee formed for this purpose.

5 - Stress the need for the announced political reforms to be immediately effective, including the separation between Political Party and State, the passing of a general legislative amnesty, the revision of the Constitution and the Electoral Code and enabling all the political sensitivities of their right to get organized and to exercise their political activities freely, away from all the pressures and constraints.

6 - Call for the creation of representative structures with broad powers to monitor the implementation of the immediate measures that were announced as well as the political, economic and social reforms.

7- In order to reinforce the trade unionist rights, according to the international conventions and the local laws, the members of the Administrative Commission call for the immediate dissolution of the professional divisions and their federations since they are parallel structures that clearly damaged worker relations and the social climate within the institutions of production. They also stress the need to dissolve the structures of the Constitutional Democratic Party, a party that is still
headed by former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

8 - Ask for reviewing the terms of the right to demonstrate peacefully in order to eliminate crippling strictures that limit people’s freedom to protest against the adopted policies that contradict with their interests and aspirations.

9 - Despite the fact that the Tunisian General Trade Union is keen to social and political reforms and to the need to strengthen them, it considers that the composition of the announced coalition government does not respond to the conditions set by the Executive Bureau in the statement issued on Saturday 15 January 2011 and does not correspond to the aspirations of the workers and the population concerning real renewal, breaking off with the old practices, and equilibriums. This is
due to the number of representatives of the previous government and the ruling party in the coalition government as well as the marginalization of the role of the representatives of the Tunisian General Trade Union. The members of the Administrative Commission announce the withdrawal of their representatives from the coalition government, and the resignation of the union members from the House of Representatives, the Council of Advisers and the municipal councils as well as the freezing of the membership of the Tunisian General Trade Union in the Economic
and Social Council as well its membership in the Supreme Councils.

10 - Reject all forms of external intervention to guide our people and to influence them because the population who managed to overthrow a President who suppressed all those who upheld the right to freedom of expression, is qualified to chart their own destiny away from guardianship.

11 - Call for working to form an elected constituent assembly, through free and democratic elections, which reflects the will of our people to build a better future.

12 - Decide to give an amnesty to the trade unionists whose activity was suspended in all sectors and regions.

Tunis 18 January 2011

General Secretary
Abdessalem Jerad

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Union Statements on Tunisia

The following are some statements by unions and international confederations regarding events in Tunisia. The statement by French confederations is a rough translation of the text published on Solidaires website.

1. International Trade Union Conderation Statement on Tunisia - January 12
2. Statement by CGT, CFDT, FO, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires - January 13
3. Statement of the National Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) - January 15
4. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union - January 17



1. ITUC Calls on Affiliates to Mobilise against Repression of Demonstrations
12 January 2011: The International Trade Union Confederation has called on its affiliated organisations around the globe to mobilise against the violent repression of demonstrators by the Tunisian security forces. According to trade union sources, over fifty people are thought to have died in clashes between the security forces and protestors, and many more have been injured.

The wave of demonstrations was unleashed when a young street vendor from Sidi Bouzid committed suicide on 17 December 2010 following the confiscation of his merchandise by the authorities. In four weeks, the protest movement has spread beyond Tunisia’s socio-economically disadvantaged central region, reaching the capital, Tunis, and other towns across the country.

On Monday 10 January, President Zine El Abidine pledged to create 300,000 jobs in 2011 and 2012 to curb unemployment, and described the protests as "terrorist acts". The ITUC is calling for concrete measures to fulfil the welcome jobs pledge as well as an immediate halt to the violent repression and the opening of a genuine dialogue with the Tunisian people, to promote more equitable development. The ITUC has joined with its Tunisian affiliate the UGTT in expressing solidarity with the people of Tunisia and supporting the call for a development model guaranteeing equal opportunities, the right to decent work, and job opportunities providing a stable income capable of meeting their needs.

"The opening of a genuine dialogue is urgently needed in Tunisia," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "The demonstrators are desperate young people just looking to make ends meet. It is up to the Tunisian authorities to take every action to help them. It must also ensure that those detained be immediately released. The government must fulfil its obligations under international law to respect trade union rights and fundamental liberties such as freedom of expression."

The ITUC supports the general strike planned in the 3 regions by the UGTT and condemns the police blockades at the UGTT offices in several towns and the use of force to prevent trade unionists from organising peaceful protests.

2. Statement Thursday, January 13, 2011 at a meeting of the Labour Exchange in Paris

With the Tunisian central union UGTT, the French trade unions CGT, CFDT, FO, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires, denounce the repressive policy of the Tunisian government. They condemn the shoot to kill policy in Thala, Kasserine and Ar-Reqab and denounced the raid that destroyed the premises of the UGTT in Kasserine.

The wave of anger triggered three weeks ago in Sidi Bouzid by self-immolation of the youth Mohamed Bouazizi express in Tunisia a vast movement of demands for jobs and a decent life.

The regime responds by force and killing. According to a provisional report, some 50 people in the cities of Kasserine and Thala, died. , we must add those killed and injured in other regions, the exact count of victims is not yet clear.

The army was deployed yesterday to the capital and major cities and a curfew is introduced. Faced with such a policy we fear the worst.

With the UGTT, French unions call for immediate withdrawal of the military from towns, the end of the state of emergency affecting some areas and the release of all prisoners.

The six French organizations demand, with the Tunisian trade unionists that those who opened fire on demonstrators are prosecuted and punished. They support the request of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the UN for a transparent and credible inquiry.

The current announcements of the regime are not credible. The Tunisian Government declares the freeing of all detained since the start of movement and proceeds at the same time to more arrests. Without significant action and concrete commitments, promises of job creation, vague recognition of corruption or changes of ministers are just manifestations of a helpless regime that this crisis has called into question.

French trade union organisations declare solidarity with the Tunisian central union in claiming that a country's development model should meet the basic needs of the population, based on regional balance and for which the state and the public sector must ensure their investment function.

Tunisian workers claim a right to a decent job providing a steady income allowing everyone to meet their needs and providing guarantees in the event of loss of employment. We therefore support the request of the Tunisian central union to create an unemployment fund.

The French unions say they are also supportive of the claims of unionists and the Tunisian people who aspire to democracy, respect for civil liberties, the press and media, independence of the judiciary and respect for union rights to demonstrate and strike. Many rights violated by a regime that takes breath, year after year has reinforced repression and authoritarianism.

The six French organizations also wish to express their indignation at the statements of some members of the French government supporting President Ben Ali denying the authoritarian nature of the Tunisian regime or opting for cooperation with the Tunisian authorities to maintain order.

Also, they ask the government to cease its support for the police regime of Ben Ali, who is now unable to receive the explicit or implicit guarantee of democratic governments.

They also call upon the EU to demand that the Tunisian government respects the clause on respect for democracy and human rights and fundamental freedoms of association in the Accord with Tunisia. It must be the same in the negotiations leading to a partnership of the European Union with this country.

They finally call on the French and European authorities to demand the release and amnesty of prisoners and those convicted following the social movements, including those of 2008 in the mining area of Gafsa.

3. Statement of the National Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union

The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union held a meeting on Saturday, January 15, 2011, after examining the outcome of the social and political conditions in the country and the resulting struggles of workers, trade unionists and the general public, in addition to the confirmed ability of our comrades of the Tunisian General Labor Union to regulate the movement of strike and to make it succeed. The Executive Bureau:

1 - Greets the general public, for its struggle to oppose injustice, oppression, persecution and all forms of corruption and misconduct. It renews the condemnation of the great campaigns of genocide and assassination that have targeted innocent and defenseless people who were demonstrating for the right to decent work in a society characterized by freedom, democracy and human rights and the fundamental rights of workers represent an integral part of these characteristics.

2 - Praises the role played by the Tunisian General Labor Union in embracing the workers, led by trade unionist and sectoral structures, and in its success in embracing the rest of the segments of the population, protecting and defending them and their social interests.

3 - Calls for the need to apply the Constitution, respect the chapters relating to the mechanisms to get out of the crisis and the formation of a national coalition government composed of intellectual, political and social figures and which should not include persons from the dissolved government. The task of this government is to work to protect the citizens and families of all forms of robbery and assault and to ensure their safety.

4 - Emphasizes the need for the immediate formation of the following committees:
A) A fact-finding commission to prosecute all the people involved in the assassination of citizens either by shooting or by giving orders to do so.
B) A follow-up Committee to capture the corrupt, the manipulators of people's money and those who caused corruption in whatever form. The commission should include independent figures and jurists selected through consultation with the components of civil society.
C) A national committee to review the Constitution and the Electoral Code and all the laws relating to political reform in order to ensure the preparation for democratic elections that reflect the aspirations of our people and respond to the demands of the strikers in order to give the possibility for the parliamentary government to establish the rule of law and institutions.

5 - Calls for a real freedom of the media through the dissolution of the High Council for Communication and the Tunisian Agency for External Communication and the formation of an independent commission to direct the media in our country.

6 - Calls for the immediate dissolution of the professional divisions and the professional federations that they created, because they represented one of the causes of tension within the institutions of production and work sites.

7 - Stresses the need to uphold the enactment of a general legislative amnesty.
8 - Calls for the separation between the political parties and the state structures and to an in-depth review of the concept of security and its structures and functions.

9 - Affirms the right to peaceful demonstration and emphasizes the freedom of association away from any pressures or restrictions.

10 - Draws the attention to the need to preserve the public and private properties and the peaceful and free expression and invites business owners and retail stores to return to their economic activity and to open their shops to meet the needs of citizens in order to reduce some aspects of looting and robbery carried out by groups of suspicious identity.

11 - Calls the regional and local trade union structures to form committees to protect the headquarters of the unions, the public properties and institutions and to protect families and citizens and the general public from all the forms of robbery and assault.

The General Secretary

Abdessalem Jerad

4. Statement of the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union

The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union held a meeting on Sunday, 16 January 2011 under the chairmanship of the General Secretary comrade Abdessalem Jerad to follow the latest developments in our country asthe existence of a gang whose relationship with some symbols of the former regime was confirmed. This gang attempted to instill fear and chaos among the population. The Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor union:

1 - Calls for an immediate freeze on all assets of the former President and all the bank accounts of his family and in-laws and to prevent any attempt to leave the Tunisian territory until the outcome of the investigation that will be led by an appointed commission entrusted with revealing all financial excesses, all forms of corruption and the attacks on people's property.

2 - Calls the officials and the responsible charged with forming a coalition government to provide people with minute information about what is happening in our country like organized sabotage, the attempts to spread terror among the citizens and the rapid and urgent actions to be taken to preserve the safety of all families.

3 - Addresses all the trade union structures, the workers and the entire population:

Dear trade unionists
Dear workers
Dear citizens

Our country is witnessing a situation that includes attempts of some people, whose relationship with the former regime was confirmed, to spread terror, fear and chaos among the population. In order to face the crimes committed against our people and their properties, against the gains achieved over the long process of national and the social struggle and to stop doubting in the path that we want to build with all the components of civil society and all the national forces in addition to opposing the revitalization of black market, the Executive Bureau of the Tunisian General Labor Union calls all the workers to resume working and all tradesmen to open their shops starting from Monday, 17 January 2011

Let us have another date with history,
Let us be united in defending the interests of our people, our institutions and our work

Let us be a strong unit in confronting all attempts of spreading confusion and organized terrorism against our people.

The General Secretary

Abdessalem Jerad

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Stop the Auction!: UE Seeks Solidarity

by Jane Slaughter
Labor Notes

United Electrical Workers (UE) members in Massachusetts are once again gearing up to stop the company that closed their plant from auctioning off its equipment for scrap. They’re asking New England union members to come to Taunton, south of Boston, January 19 to blockade the Haskon Aerospace factory, a maker of door seals and silicone gaskets for aircraft, and prevent the auction from taking place.

Besides UE members from throughout the Northeast, Jobs with Justice chapters, local unions, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Jewish Labor Committee, students and professors from Stonehill College, local residents, and the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Central Labor Council will be there.

The Taunton City Council backs the union’s bid to keep open the 80-year-old plant, which has provided jobs for generations of residents. The council voted unanimously to take Haskon’s equipment by eminent domain, planning to then sell it to a buyer or to the workers themselves. But the council needs permission from the state legislature, which won’t convene till January 21.

Haskon’s parent company, Esterline Technologies, postponed the scheduled auction once in response to union pressure, but has generally been highly uncooperative, on everything from severance pay to health insurance to the fate of the presses. The company has demanded that workers pay more than triple what an appraiser says the presses and equipment are worth.

The UE members were offered solidarity by a Canadian Auto Workers local experienced in fighting a plant auction. President Gerry Farnham’s CAW Local 195 blockaded an auction in November 2009 to keep a Chrysler supplier from selling off equipment while it still owed workers hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance, vacation, and other benefits.

The company had employed 80 CAW members. “We strategized here in Windsor [Ontario] with all the brother and sister locals around,” Farnham said. “I called a meeting of all the presidents. I told them, ‘I have two facilities I have to block.’

“We had retirees out, we really mobilized our people. They had picket signs with what they were owed—$25,000, $30,000—so the media and people in the community could put a face to a person who’d worked there 25 years and wasn't going to receive a penny.”

Farnham said the Windsor area was lucky because a local union with a problem can call a flying squad to come to its aid. His call resulted in 200 workers and supporters forcing their way through the door of the Radisson Hotel, running up the stairs (the elevators were shut down), and taking over the auction room. The auction was halted.

“Had we not reacted in the manner in which we did,” Farnham said, “there is no doubt in any of our workers’ minds they would not have received one penny.” Earlier, workers had occupied their plant, chaining the doors shut for four days to keep the company from removing equipment. They eventually received $650,000 from Chrysler and from Comerica bank.

See Keep Haskon Jobs in Taunton! for updated information. Call Peter Knowlton, UE regional president, at 774-264-0110 if your union is sending a delegation to the Haskon plant, 336 Weir St. in Taunton. They’re asking for support at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 19.

Further information on the campaign are available on Labor Notes and from UE.

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Made in Dagenham: Lessons for Today from the Golden Age of Factory Unrest?

by Steve Early
Monthly Review Zine

In 1968, the world was transfixed by global student unrest. Less attention was paid to factory uprisings that occurred at the same time and overlapped with campus protests in places like France. In one small corner of the Ford Motor Company's huge production complex in Dagenham, England, several hundred women did their part in the "year of revolt." Toiling in their own-sex-segregated department, the only females in a plant of 55,000 had walked out many times in the past, over strike issues dear to their male co-workers. Now, it was their turn to shut down sewing machines, stop production of seat covers, and picket Ford over a pay dispute with broader social implications.



Made in Dagenham is the story of their strike -- born of working-class feminist consciousness in a labor movement even more dominated by "the lads" forty years ago than it is today. Schmaltzy, upbeat, and out of synch with our current workplace gestalt of hopelessness and defeat, this filmis just what the head doctor ordered for holiday entertainment. It is, by far, the best popular depiction of union activist creation since Ken Loach's Bread and Roses and Martin Ritt's Norma Rae. If unions don't use it to train shop stewards and bargaining committee members, that failure of labor education imagination will be understandable because Made in Dagenham captures the frequent tension between labor's full-time officialdom and its working members, particularly during strikes.



The strike leader played by Sally Hawkins in Nigel Cole's new movie is a very British version of the Southern textile worker portrayed so famously by Sally Fields in 1979. Rita O'Grady is not even a union steward in the film's early scenes of shop-floor life and work. She steps into that role only because her older co-worker, Connie, is dealing with the suicidal depression of her husband, a damaged survivor of wartime duty in the RAF. Unlike the mill where Norma Rae toiled, the Dagenham plant is completely organized. Unfortunately, with the exception of Albert, a loveable chief steward ally (wonderfully played by Bob Hoskins), the union, which is a composite of several actually involved, seems to function as an arm of Ford's HR department, a labor-management relationship not unknown to autoworkers in this country.



The political traditions of British trade unions give this arrangement humorous left cover. In one memorable scene, a clutch of worried officials, in jackets and ties, are trying to talk Rita out of strike action that might upend some murky, big-picture strategy the leadership is pursuing. While condescending to the only worker in the room, they address each other as "comrade" and invoke Marx as the final authority on what should and should not be done!

Rita's first bargaining session is a face-to-face meeting with Ford officials about their misclassification of the sewing machine operators as un-skilled labor. Both Rita and Connie (Geraldine James) get a day off from work and overdress for the occasion. Monty, their full-time union representative (played by Kenneth Cranham), first takes them out for a well-lubricated lunch, a perk designed to put Rita and Connie (Geraldine James) in his debt. Monty has obviously been off the job and out of the plant for years; his main preoccupation now seems to be eating and drinking at dues-payer expense, dressing nicely, and seeing the company's side of things. When the union delegation finally sits down with management, Monty does all the talking and fails to give Ford a firm deadline for fixing the problem.

Shocked by the incompetence of her own union negotiator, and his coziness with employer representatives, Rita commandeers the meeting. She interrupts Monty and pulls out samples of the seat covers stitched by the workers in her department. She explains the complexity of the labor process involved and insists that Ford properly reward the skill and experience necessary to do the job. The scene is a great tutorial in how to make effective job upgrade presentations -- and, believe me, they're always done best by those who do the actual work. The bosses are so taken aback that one can only respond with a threat of discipline for Rita's lifting of the material used in her demonstration.

The radicalization of Rita that follows is a sight to be seen. Hawkins' character in this film is no Poppy, the loopy Cockney in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky that won her a Golden Globe and a slew of other awards in 2008. She is a mother with two children, working the proverbial "double shift" in a traditional marriage to a fellow Dagenham worker (played by Daniel Mays) who is sweet but weak-willed. She's a woman previously lacking in personal self-confidence, a stranger to public speaking, and bereft of "political experience" (as Ford officials discover when they scour her file expecting to find evidence of left-wing party connections).

Under the tutelage of Albert (a far more appealing version of the union mentors played by Ron Leibman in Norma Rae and Adrien Brody in Bread and Roses), Rita finds her own voice, a streak of determination, and the capacity to move others. As in many strikes, rank-and-file unity is stronger at the beginning. Then, as the job action spreads, thousands are thrown out of work and the recriminations begin to fly. For some workers, organizing strike relief, attending rallies, maintaining picket-lines, and meeting other union members is a learning experience, liberating and even euphoric. Others -- in this case, mainly fearful or disgruntled guys -- slink away to the pub. There, they watch strike coverage on the telly and grouse about the economic hardship inflicted on the real breadwinners in the community by a handful of unreasonable women.

Rita's own Norma Rae moment occurs at a union conference, not standing on the picket-line or a work bench in the plant. Monty and the other "comrades" have scheduled a vote, among the entirely male conference delegates, that will end this costly "industrial action" at Ford, without a favorable resolution of the job grading issue. Rita and her roving pickets are the only women at the meeting. Rita takes the stage and delivers a moving, but simple, speech recalling the wartime courage of her co-worker's husband, the now deceased RAF veteran. "Men and women, we are in this together," she tells the stone-faced crowd. "We are not divided by sex. Only by those willing to accept injustice." Moved, shamed, and/or inspired by her message, the delegates vote to continue union backing for the Dagenham strike, which, by then, was creating widespread disruption of Ford production.

The company responds by sending a hard-nosed executive from Detroit to read the riot act to Britain's then-Labour Government. If the strike is not ended, Ford strongly hints, it might shift Cortina production to a land where the blokes and birds aren't so strike-happy. The prime minister at the time was the wishy-washy Harold Wilson. His First Secretary of State was Barbara Castle, a longtime member of parliament (played with flair by Miranda Richardson) who takes charge of the situation when Wilson doesn't. In the film, with a little waving of Castle's magic wand, a dispute over pay-grading in a particular auto plant job classification gets transformed, for PR purposes, into a broader demand for "equal pay." Two years after the walkout was finally settled with an increase for the sewing machine operators (that still left them earning less than men in the same job grade), Parliament did enact legislation against pay discrimination, based on gender. The measure was not fully implemented until 1975.

But the social reality, in the meantime, was a bit more complex, as several British commentators, including Sheila Cohen, have noted (see Cohen's critique of the film at thecommune.co.uk.) The real-life Labour Party feminist shown negotiating with Rita and her friends in London triggered a trade union revolt in 1969 with a white paper entitled "In Place of Strife." Castle (who would later become Baroness Castle of Blackburn) created a backlash against Wilson's government and contributed to Labour's electoral defeat in 1970, when she tried to curb union rights and quell the broader strike wave that the women of Dagenham surfed so impressively.

The finer points of British left and labor history aside, if you liked Brassed Off, The Full Monty, or Billy Elliot, Made in Dagenham is the film for you. The lyrics for its theme song, performed by former Dagenham worker Sandie Shaw, were written by the British protest rocker, Billy Bragg (who has a street in Dagenham named after him). It's not coal miners or steelworkers who take center stage this time, but sewing machine operators who were no less skilled in the hard work of union solidarity.

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Steve Early was involved in telecom and manufacturing strikes and bargaining for 27 years as a New England representative of the Communications Workers of America. He is the author of Embedded with Organized Labor: Journalistic Reflections on the Class War at Home. His new book, due out February 1 from Haymarket Books, is called The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor. He can be reached at . For speaking event information, visit: .

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