Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labor Union, Members of the Executive Board,

We send you our warmest regards,

On the occasion of your election as head of the Tunisian General Labor Union following its most recent congress, we are pleased, on behalf of the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia, to extend our warmest congratulations to you, along with our sincere wishes for success in carrying out your noble duties.

This milestone comes at a delicate time for Tunisia, when the Union’s responsible national role appears more necessary than ever, as one of the main pillars of the defense of social rights and trade union freedoms, as well as a key player in maintaining social balance and fostering national dialogue.

While acknowledging the rich history of activism of the Tunisian General Labor Union and its historic contributions to the defense of workers’ rights and social justice, we express our hope that your new leadership will continue to fulfill this role, strengthen the organization’s independence, consolidate its internal democracy, and deepen its commitment to the defense of rights and freedoms.

In this context, we would like to reiterate that we, as activists for human rights, migrants’ rights, and the rights of Tunisians abroad, have always stood alongside the Tunisian General Labor Union and its leaders, particularly during the crises of 1978 and 1985, when we supported the Union and its activists and defended trade union action.

We also wish to express the commitment of the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia to work together with you and to establish constructive cooperative relationships, based on dialogue and mutual support, in order to:

• defend workers' rights and protect their hard-won gains,
• protect the rights of migrants and ensure their dignity,
• strengthen freedom of association and respect for international standards in this area,
• to uphold civil liberties and human rights in their entirety.

In this context, we reaffirm our full solidarity with the Tunisian General Labor Union and its activists in the face of all forms of pressure. We also express our rejection and condemnation of the abolition of the mechanism for the automatic deduction of union dues from wages, as it constitutes a violation of trade union rights and an attempt to undermine the organization’s independence and its ability to defend workers. In this regard, we call for the respect of national and international commitments guaranteeing freedom of association and the protection of union action against any form of interference or pressure.

We are convinced that the current situation calls for the joint mobilization of all sectors of civil society and social forces in order to uphold the rule of law and civil liberties, and to promote the values of justice and dignity.

Finally, we would like to reiterate our congratulations and wish you every success in carrying out your duties, in the best interests of Tunisia and its people.

Please accept our warmest regards and deepest respect.

On behalf of the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia
, Mohieddine Cherbib

A congratulatory message from
, Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT)
, to our sisters and brothers, members of the Executive Board,

Greetings,

On the occasion of your election as head of the Tunisian General Labor Union following its recent conference, we at the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia are pleased to extend our warmest congratulations and sincere best wishes for success in your noble endeavors.

This milestone comes at a critical juncture for Tunisia, when there is a growing need for the Union to play a responsible national role, given that it is one of the most important pillars of the defense of social rights and trade union freedoms, and a fundamental component of social balance and national dialogue.

While we commend the long-standing struggle of the Tunisian General Labor Union and its historic contributions to the defense of workers’ rights and social justice, we affirm our hope that your new leadership will continue to fulfill this role, strengthen the organization’s independence and internal democracy, and actively engage in the defense of rights and freedoms.

In this context, we would like to remind everyone that we—as activists for human rights, migrants’ rights, and the rights of Tunisians abroad—have always stood by the Tunisian General Labor Union and its leadership, particularly during the crises of 1978 and 1985, when we supported the Union and its activists and defended the labor movement.

We also wish to express the Committee’s commitment to upholding freedoms and human rights in Tunisia through our joint efforts with you, and to establishing constructive cooperative relationships based on dialogue and complementarity, with the aim of:
• Defending workers’ rights and safeguarding their gains,
• Protecting migrants’ rights and ensuring their dignity,
• Promoting freedom of association and respecting relevant international standards,
• Supporting civil liberties and human rights in a comprehensive manner.

In this context, we affirm our full solidarity with the Tunisian General Labor Union and its activists in the face of all forms of repression, and we express our rejection and condemnation of the abolition of the mechanism for the automatic deduction of union dues from wages, as this constitutes an infringement on trade union rights and an attempt to undermine the organization’s independence and its ability to fulfill its role in defending workers. We also call for respect for national and international obligations guaranteeing freedom of association and protecting trade union activities from all forms of interference or pressure.

We believe that the current situation calls for the concerted efforts of various components of civil society and social forces to safeguard the rule of law and freedoms, and to promote the values of justice and dignity.

In closing, we would like to once again extend our congratulations to you and wish you every success in your endeavors, for the good of Tunisia and its people.

Please accept my deepest gratitude and respect.

From the Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights in Tunisia
Mohieddin Cherbib