The ITF has launched a solidarity campaign in support of Tunisian dock workers being subjected to an anti union campaign.
Members of ITF-affiliated union Syndicat Generale de la Marine Marchande et des Ports – Tunis, at the Port of La Goulette, took part in strike action in March as a result of management’s alleged failure to implement points of an agreement signed with the union.
Since then, the Office of Merchant Navy and Ports (OMMP), the port authority which operates Tunisian ports, has reportedly embarked on an anti-union campaign which includes depriving workers of their wages and removing the administrative function of two union executives, who are also heads of department, and taking disciplinary action against them.
ITF Arab World regional secretary Bilal Malkawi said: “These workers went on strike because they had no choice, now as a result of the action taken they are facing a campaign of anti union activity against them. This must stop and those removed from their positions must be reinstated. Unions in the Arab World have already been expressing their solidarity with the dockers in La Goulette, but now that support needs to be coming from across the world.”
The ITF is calling on dockers’ affiliates worldwide to support the Tunisian workers by sending letters of protest to the port authority and messages of support to the union. Head to the solidarity page>>(http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/Tunisian-port-workers.cfm)
