Customs officers warn over national strike in Algeria

Tension increased between Customs General Department and the National Coordination following Wednesday’s sit-in.

• The Algiers Port administration described customs officers strike as illegitimate while the Coordination warned over escalating the protesting movement if a protester is punished.
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• The protests were described as illegitimate because they were organised out of union frame.
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• Customs administration said the protesters will be submitted to the statute. That mans it will take sanction measures against the protesting customs officers.
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• Secretary General of Customs Union in the Algiers Port Kamel Ramdani told Echorouk the protests were legitimate as the union notified the Central Union in advance.
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• He added that the protests aimed at pushing the administration to open doors to dialogue with customs and listen to their preoccupations.
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• Ramdani warned over extending the protesting movement nationwide if the administration takes sanction measures against the protesters.
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• “The choice of a national strike will be inevitable event if the administration continues putting pressure and punishing protesting customs officers.
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• Ramdani believes that calm and trust can be restored through dialogue and discussion and not by winnings and threats. “That will complicate things and lead to the escalation of protesting movement among customs officers.”