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date: 12 January 2011

embargo: For immediate release

Union HQ stormed after deadly unemployment protests in Tunisia

Today (Wednesday) Tunisian security services stormed the headquarters of the Tunisian trade union movement after two weeks of violent clashes on the streets between police and demonstrators over unemployment, which have left at least 50 dead.

The TUC has protested to the Tunisian Embassy and asked the UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague to press the Tunisian government not just to respect the right to protest, but to allow unions to operate freely, and to work with them to address the economic challenges the country faces.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber condemned the killings and the attack on the unions who have been at the heart of the protests. He said:

'This is madness. No one should have to pay with their life for exercising their right to protest, and calling for a job.

'What is happening in Tunisia is the result of unbalanced globalisation and too much privatisation.'

The umbrella body for trade unions in Tunisia, the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT), has called for an end to the violent repression of public protests, greater democracy and for soaring unemployment - especially among young people - and regional inequalities to be addressed.

The TUC Yorkshire and the Humber Region - which includes the Foreign Secretary's constituency - is twinned with the UGTT's Ben Arous region (around the capital, Tunis) and TUC Regional Secretary Bill Adams is in constant contact with colleagues in Tunisia.

Before the storming of the UGTT today, the attacks on demonstrators had already been condemned by the US and UK governments, and by EU Vice President Baroness Cathy Ashton.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 12 Jan 2011