Tunisia’s main trade union confederation on Thursday intensified pressure on a President already facing a string of crises as the country went to a standstill.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that in the North Flights were cancelled, public transport brought to a halt, and government offices were closed in a nationwide strike.
The powerful UGTT confederation had brought up to three million public sector workers to strike, halting work at 159 state agencies and public companies which were aimed at demanding concessions on salaries and threatened reforms.
The action appeared to be widely observed in the capital Tunis, where post offices and public utilities were closed.
Police were present in large numbers outside UGTT headquarters as strikers began to gather for a rally.
Public television played repeats and carried an announcement that staff were taking part in the strike.
At the capital’s main airport, check-in desks were empty and frustrated passengers gazed at screens showing rows of cancelled flights.
Read Also: Tunisia President Extends Parliament’s Suspension
‘This strike is the culmination of a collective failure by more than 10 Tunisian governments, the UGTT, the International Monetary Fund and Tunisia’s international partners’ to restructure the economy, said Tunisian economist Fadhel Kaboub.
‘It will serve as a reminder to the IMF that working people in Tunisia can only sustain so much economic pain.’
The strike comes as Tunisia prepares to enter formal talks with the IMF on a new bailout plan for its debt-laden economy.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that Tunisians are facing soaring inflation and the UGTT has demanded a new deal to raise public sector salaries, including retroactively for last year.
While the UGTT’s opponents say it is ignoring the country’s deep financial woes, its leverage has been boosted by the IMF making a bailout deal conditional on trade union support.
The government has presented a reform plan to the global lender which includes a freeze on the public sector wage bill, progressive cuts to some subsidies and a restructuring of publicly owned companies.
