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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Train Employees Go on Strike in Tunisia over Unmet Govt Pledges

A general view of Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis, virtually deserted on the first day of a general lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ordered by Tunisia's president, in Tunis, Tunisia, March 22, 2020. (Reuters)

Employees of state-owned National Society of Tunisian Railways went on strike on Thursday over unmet government pledges.

The one-day strike included the freight transport, commuter, long-distance and suburb lines.

The employees were demanding the implementation of a previous agreement signed with the government years ago and the settlement of professional matters including promotions and work conditions.

This strike coincided with the Tunisian General Labor Union protests that have been ongoing for weeks against the ruling authority’s policies and current social situation.

Head of the "private railways syndicate", Najib Al-Jelassi‎‏ said the strike “was not the aim but the means” to obtain the rights of employees.

The strike is the result of the authority’s failure to fulfill its previous commitments, he added.

Separately, the Independent High Authority for Elections is mulling plans to hold municipal elections later this year. They were first held on May 6, 2018.

Independent High Authority for Elections president Farouk Bouasker expected the elections to take place between June 15 and the beginning of July.

He stressed that the Authority was ready to stage the polls.

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