Tunisian Labor Union Concludes 22nd Congress Today

Ahmed Ellali | 28 December 2011 | 1 Comment

Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT)

The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) concluded its 22^nd congress today. Former executive bureau members provided their feedback concerning the financial and general reports of the past five years. The conference was characterized by efforts to present a plan for internal reforms to readjust the organization’s priorities in the post-uprisings era.

At the congress’ opening session on Sunday, Abdessalam Jrad was elected the president of the 22^nd congress.

Members began the second session on Monday by reading the union’s general report. Throughout the day union representatives debated the union’s future trajectory and methods to restructure its regional networks.

Abid Briki, the UGTT’s spokesperson, presentated an outline for internal reform to the press. The report also detailed the challenges the UGTT is expected to face during the pending five-year term and the union’s perspectives regarding the various social and economic initiatives that the new government is undertaking.

Briki also presented a new program that aims to work with the government to overcome the deteriorating economic situation. He stressed the importance of basing UGTT’s relationship with the new government on open dialogue and cooperation, provided that workers’ needs are sufficiently addressed. Briki recognized the burden the sit-ins and strikes have placed on Tunisia’s economic engine, but maintained that these activities are “revolutionary” and should not be criminalized.

The spokesperson also proposed that the new government launch a National Conference for Labor, and made several suggestions for economic initiatives the government could adopt to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Tunisia’s industrial sector.

Briki stated that the UGTT intends to further integrate women into the decision making processes of the union.

On Tuesday, UGTT deputies discussed methods of confronting contemporary social and economic challenges that the country faces in its current transitional period and assessing the errors committed by the union’s former executive bureau.

The product of these negotiations will be drafted in bylaws that will set UGTT’s new policies until the subsequent congress.

The voting session to elect the UGTT’s new executive bureau is expected to take place today at around 7:00pm. The number of candidates expected to run for the union’s presidency initially reached 50, but is presumed to be tapered down to 17 or 18.