Interview: Solidarity is our Oxygen

Abstract

early 1990s. Law 90/14 was passed which allowed for freedom of association and union pluralism – this was when many unions registered. But in 1993, the military took more control and began the repression of independent unions. Many unions and confederations were forced to cease their activities. Today only 12 unions remain active and able to carry out their duties despite 65 being registered. The vast majority of unions toe the government line. In the economy, all form of union pluralism is forbidden – SNATEGS has been able to resist this rule up until this point, despite repeated attempts by multiple governments to dissolve us or bring our members to trial. How has the Government reacted to your determination to continue with SNATEGS against their wishes? The government continues to refuse independent trade unionism in the energy sector. It’s a very sensitive sector where there is deep corruption, and privatisation is an emerging threat. The pushback has been huge: over a dozen of our shop stewards have faced prison sentences. Their strategy is to dismiss our people and follow up with criminal prosecution and civil abuse with the aim of impoverishing independent trade unionists. This can include years of unpaid wages and additional costs of lawyers to access justice in order to convince trade unionists of stopped their struggle. This strategy of the government risks annihilating the entire authentic trade union movement. For other workers to see a union leader living in misery, under the poverty line scares other workers and prevents them from joining the union. What has been the effect of your union activism on your personal life? I was fired from my job because of my union membership, deprived of my salary for over 4 years despite a court decision in my favor. I tried to make a living by finding another job but unfortunately as soon as the security services knew the address of my business they started to harass my clients: in the end they managed to force me to declare bankruptcy. This financial situation and daily harassment convinced me to flee the city where I live for another city. For now, I believe the security services do not know my new address. INTERVIEW | RAOUF MELLAL, SNATEGS, ALGERIA 5 25/2 | International Union Rights | A planned ILO mission was cancelled after the Government refused to allow meetings with independent unions In late 2016 the Algerian Government announced that the independent trade union for workers at the state gas and electricity company ((Syndicat National des Travailleurs de l’Électricité et du Gaz, SNATEGS) had taken the decision to cease activities and dissolve. Far from the truth, SNATEGS’ members and leaders vowed to continue their struggle for workers rights. But continuing to operate against the Government’s wishes has led to a violent crackdown against the union. SNATEGS President, Raouf Mellal has been the target of multiple attacks by the government, including arrest, imprisonment and a public smear campaign. Yet this has not deterred him. Global Union Federations including Industriall, IUF and PSI have stepped in to give the Algerian union movement visibility and support by organising a range of actions including protests at embassies and raising the issue at international forum. Earlier this year a planned ILO mission to Algeria was cancelled at the last minute after the Government refused to allow meetings with independent unions. Unable to present the Algerian trade union reality to the ILO in his own country, this June Raouf was present at the International Labour Conference in Geneva to highlight the Algerian struggle to the world. On the sidelines of the conference, Public Services International caught up with Raouf to learn more about the situation. Can you give us a brief overview of the situation for independent unions in Algeria? All independent unions in Algeria suffer from a huge crackdown by the Algerian government, which categorically refuses any dialogue with the independent unions and only recognises a union structure called the UGTA. Recently all unions have faced police repression, abusive or judicial arrests, prison sentences. Trade union pluralism in Algeria is a big lie, the government uses a false pluralism to improve its international face. Now the Ministry of Labour is...