ITF Condemns Tunis Attacks Against Unions And Democracy

Thursday, 6 December 2012

ITF Condemns Tunis Attacks Against Unions And Democracy

The International Transport Workers¹ Federation (ITF) has written to the President of Tunisia condemning Tuesday¹s violent attack on the offices of the national centre UGTT and supporting the union¹s strike, called for December 13th.

Hundreds of men armed with knives, sticks and Molotov cocktails descended on the union¹s Tunis headquarters on 4th December, whilst a vigil was being held to mark the 60th anniversary of murdered union founder Farhat Hached. Ten people were injured. Key ITF representatives witnessed the attack.

ITF Arab World representative Bilal Malkawi said: ³This shocking incident is an attack on human and trade union rights. The UGTT is a key player in the global union movement and also for democracy in the Arab world. Global transport workers support the UGTT together with its member unions who are in the ITF.²

ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: ³We are calling on the government to protect the unions¹ right to peaceful assembly in the future ¬ this is a key responsibility which the state must no longer neglect.²

The attack was captured on amateur video; following the incidents thousands of union members and supporters gathered in the city centre to protest against the violence.

ENDS

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