SNAPSHOTS

In Tunisia, UGTT Infighting Risks Playing Into President Saied's Hands

Feb 9, 2026 | 19:25 GMT

Supporters of Tunisia's General Labour Union (UGTT) wave the national flag during a rally in Tunis on Aug. 21, 2025.
Supporters of Tunisia's General Labour Union (UGTT) wave the national flag during a rally in Tunis on Aug. 21, 2025.

(FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

In Tunisia, officials from the country's influential labor union confederation will likely try to mend internal disputes to increase the effectiveness of any rescheduled national strike, but failure to do so would likely embolden Tunisian President Kais Saied to further erode the union's strength and, in turn, private-sector bargaining power. Nearly three weeks have passed since the Tunisian General Labor Union, or UGTT, had originally intended to conduct a nationwide general strike on Jan. 21. On Jan. 23, the union's deputy secretary-general suggested that a decision regarding the future of the strike would be determined at the union's congress, tentatively scheduled for March 25-27. Union leadership originally called for the strike in December 2025 to protest the Tunisian government's crackdown on the opposition, protect the union's right to collective bargaining after the central government sidelined the union from wage and pension increase negotiations, and call for dialogue between government and...

Subscribe to view this article

Subscribe Now

Subscribe

Already have an account?