Algeria : independent unions go on protest on mid- April

More than 16 independent public service unions decided a three day protest on 13,14 and 15 of April in a move to pressure the authorities to sit around a table.

Talking yesterday in a press call, the coordinator of public service unions, Mohammed Merabet has called on the relevant authorities for an open dialogue with the “real representatives” and considered the marginalization of the independent unions as “an irresponsible decision”.

M Merabet inveighed against the employment and social security minister Tayeb Louh for having excluded a social partner which is the “unique representative of the civil servant” according to him.

He went on saying that their protest movement is a way to “guarantee the freedom of unions’ activities and respect the employees’ requests”. For his part M Meziane Meriane accused the authorities of being unconstitutional, whereas M Amraoui added that their movement aimed at unifying the union’s activities.

M Merabet, who congratulated Sidi Said for being anointed for a second term on top of the Algerian Workers’ Union , asserted that the secession of his union from this institution was mainly due to a lack of consideration for the general union.