General strike in Tunisia prompts warnings of imminent social tension
Most of Tunisia’s sectors were paralyzed June 16 due to the general strike called for by the country’s largest and powerful trade union to pressure the government to respond to the workers’ demands.
TUNIS, Tunisia — The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), Tunisia’s largest trade union defending public and private sector employees, went on strike June 16, in protest against the deteriorating economic conditions and government measures imposed to address the financial crisis plaguing the country.
These measures include freezing public wages and reducing subsidies, which the government hopes will lead to an urgent $4 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The general strike paralyzed traffic across Tunisia after heavily disrupting all forms of public transport.
Meanwhile, the national carrier, Tunisair, announced that all flights scheduled for June 16 were canceled and will be scheduled for June 17-19.
