Moroccan trade unions strike for change

17/02/2008

After a large trade union strike affected the education, health and local government sectors, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi vowed to hold regular meetings with unions and draft a new social charter. Union members have threatened future action if the government fails to honour promises of pay increases and legislative reforms.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 17/02/08

[Sarah Touahri] Three or Morocco's five trade unions went on strike on Wednesday (February 13th) to demand wage increases and legislative reforms. Union members vowed to strike again if the government gave them empty promises.

Despite pleas from Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, three of Morocco's five national trade unions held a 24-hour strike on Wednesday (February 13th), paralysing the nation’s civil service. The FDT (Democratic Labour Federation), UNMT (National Union of Moroccan Labour) and USF (Civil Servants’ Union) proceeded with the strike after two meetings with El Fassi. Morocco’s two other trade unions opted out of the strike, saying that the government should be given more time to consider the union's demands for pay increases and legislative reforms.

Officials said the sectors worst hit by the Wednesday strikes were education, health and local government. Saying they have seen no encouraging signs from the government, however, the unionists vowed that the strikes would go on.

During the cabinet's weekly meeting on Thursday, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi condemned the decision to strike, insisting that the launch of talks with the unions was a clear sign of good faith on the part of the government. He reiterated the government’s desire to settle all unresolved issues and find adequate solutions.

El Fassi also announced on Thursday that the government plans to draft a new social charter in consultation with union and business partners. The prime minister said he was aware of an urgent need to "institutionalise" meetings with workers, as trade unions have demanded. Meetings "will need to be regular so that we can find effective solutions to all the issues raised", he said.

During the first round of talks held prior to the strike, El Fassi listened to the unions' main grievances. The minister in charge of modernising the public sector, Mohamed Abbou, said the initial meetings with trade union federations were an opportunity to set out a working methodology and create specialised committees to examine the unions' demands. He stressed the unions' role as major partners in the implementation of reforms already underway.

However, talks with the prime minister’s office, "lost their credibility as soon as Abbas El Fassi settled for making promises", USF general secretary Mohamed Hakech said, adding that while many "issues have been up in the air for years, El Fassi has to deliver on the commitments made by his predecessor."

An earlier agreement between the trade unions and former Prime Minister Driss Jettou hinged upon an adjustable pay scale with an annual pay raise of 2% and the radical reform of fifty-year-old civil service legislation. Specifically, trade unions want the guaranteed minimum wage increased from 1870 to 2500 dirhams ($240-$320) and they want union rights, including the right to strike, to be recognised.

Talks are expected to resume in March.