(16 Jun 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tunis - 16 June 2022
1. Wide of demonstration organised by General Labour Union (UGTT)
2. Various of union members at demonstration
3. Close of UGTT logo
4. President of UGTT Noureddine Tabboubi at podium
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Noureddine Tabboubi, President of General Labour Union (UGTT):
"(The government) is against us because we did not participate in the national dialogue and we said that this dialogue does not serve Tunisia, which we want to be balanced and in solidarity (with the workers) through real reform programmes, so that we can get out of the political and economic impasse we are living in. We are the Democrats."
6. Various of crowd listening
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sabre Ben Slimen, employee at telecom company:
++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++
"The UGTT was never an obstacle or a destructive force against the national economy. An example of this was during the Covid crisis, when a total crisis was averted by public sector employees. Meanwhile, (the country) has been told that the UGTT is a destructive force against the national economy. The UGTT has always been a supporter of economic development of all Tunisian governments."
8. Various of people waving flags
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Boubaker Ben Ali, public sector employee:
"We, as citizens, as public sector employees, are burdened with great part of the charges of state debt."
10. Wide of demonstration
11. Various of people at demonstration
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Aida Moussa, general supervisor:
"(This strike has been called) to put pressure on the government, to support us, and for a national dialogue of course. Unfortunately, the government does not want to have a dialogue with us. So we were obliged to do this."
13. Various exteriors of Tunisian public radio closed due to the strike
14. Exteriors of administration building closed due to the strike
STORYLINE:
A nationwide public sector strike in Tunisia poised to paralyse land and air transportation and other vital activities on Thursday with the North African nation already in the midst of a deteriorating economic crisis.
Tunisia's powerful General Labour Union (UGTT) announced the walkout, which was expected to include 159 state enterprises, on the basis of pressing social and economic demands.
The purchasing power of Tunisian citizens has eroded since the beginning of the year amid rising prices, high unemployment and widespread poverty.
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the financial squeeze.
President Kais Saied’s government unveiled plans last week to cut its massive public wage bill and said it would progressively reduce energy and food subsidies starting next year.
The government said it would replace subsidies with cash handouts for low-income families.
Many are concerned Thursday’s strike could seriously impact an already fragile economy and fuel an already tense political situation.
An increasingly isolated Saied has run the country alone for 10 months, ruling by decree, while key Western allies have raised concerns of democratic backsliding.
A key issue for his government is the country’s urgent need to secure a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Tunisia’s fourth loan in a decade.
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