The labour union movement and ‘alternative’ culture in Tunisia: the long view of a close relationship

Book section : Chapter

Since 2011, Tunisia has witnessed a rare event in postcolonial societies, namely a social and political revolution that overthrew an authoritarian regime that had suppressed all aspects of dissent and attempted to co-opt unions as well as alternative cultural production in the country. This revolution itself and its aftermath have been significantly affected by the Tunisian labour movement, and in particular the Tunisian General Union of Labour, better known by its French acronym, UGTT. The fit between the revolution and UGTT was almost natural since the main demands of the rising masses, namely jobs, national dignity and freedom, have been on the agenda of the union all along. UGTT has enjoyed continuity in history and presence across the country that parallel only the ruling party at its height under presidents Bourguiba and Ben Ali. With 150 offices across the country, an office in every governorate and district, and over 700,000 current members covering the public as well as private sectors, it constituted a credible alternative to this party’s power and a locus of resistance to it, so much so that to be a unionist became a euphemism for being an opponent or an activist against the ruling party....

Authors: Omri, M-S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Zed Books
• Host title: Where Are The Unions?: Workers and Social Movements in Latin America, the Middle East and Europe
• Pages: 64-83
• Chapter number: 3
• Place of publication: London
• Publication date: 2017-03-15
• Edition: 1
• DOI: 10.5040/9781350223929.ch-003
• EISBN: 9781350223929
• ISBN-10: 1783609893
• ISBN-13: 9781783609895
• Language: English
• Subtype: Chapter