The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) strongly condemns the recent attack by groups outside the UGTT headquarters, which included open calls for the union’s dissolution . This alarming incident represents an unprecedented deterioration in the climate for freedoms and democracy in Tunisia.
This is not an isolated event but part of a continuing pattern of violations against UGTT members over the past three years, including judicial prosecutions, arbitrary transfers, the suspension of collective bargaining, the refusal of social dialogue, and the unilateral amendment of labour laws.
Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the ITUC, said: “The UGTT has always stood at the heart of Tunisia’s democratic and social achievements. Any attempt to weaken or silence it is an attack not only on workers but on democracy itself. The ITUC stands in full solidarity with the UGTT and will mobilise our global movement to ensure that trade union freedoms in Tunisia are defended and respected. We call on the Tunisian government to immediately put an end to these attacks and to return to genuine social dialogue.”
The ITUC stresses that trade union freedoms are a cornerstone of democracy. Any attempt to weaken or silence the UGTT is a direct attack on Tunisia’s democratic experience itself, which has long been a beacon of hope for people across the region. Defending the UGTT means defending independent civil society and safeguarding Tunisia’s democratic path.
Despite these pressures, the ITUC salutes the courage and determination of UGTT members and leaders, who have responded with resilience and responsibility, remaining committed to peaceful struggle and respect for constitutional legitimacy. Their call for a national trade union march on 21 August is a powerful message of unity against attempts at domination and exclusion.
This march is not only a national act of protest but also a global trade union call for democracy and freedom of association. It reflects the wider struggle against authoritarianism, populism, and the global rollback of democratic and trade union rights.
Accordingly, the ITUC:
- Holds the Tunisian government fully responsible for undermining trade union freedoms and threatening the foundations of democracy.
- Demands an immediate return to genuine social dialogue as the only path to stability and the preservation of Tunisia’s democratic transition.
- Reminds Tunisia of its international obligations under ILO conventions guaranteeing freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
- Calls on all member organisations worldwide to intensify solidarity actions—political, media, and grassroots—with the UGTT in every national and international forum.
An attack on the UGTT is an attack on the global trade union movement and on democracy itself. We remain united and determined in the face of any attempt to silence the voice of workers.