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#Tunisia is seeing one of the largest strikes in modern history today, with over 670 000 people involved.
Reporting has largely framed this as a direct conflict between Tunisia's workers and the IMF. There are however some problems with this narrative. A very short thread:
Reporting has largely framed this as a direct conflict between Tunisia's workers and the IMF. There are however some problems with this narrative. A very short thread:
First, UGTT is not your average trade union. It has been a central actor in post-2011 politics, and is toying with running its own lists in this year's elections. This adds a crucial layer of politics.
(btw I recommend following @imhartshorn on Tunisian labour politics)
(btw I recommend following @imhartshorn on Tunisian labour politics)
Second, UGTT represents not all Tunisian workers. It largely represents public sector workers - a particular constituency in post-2011 Tunisia. The majority of the country's workers - especially those in the informal sector - have no explicit representation in this fight.
Third, as tempting as this is - the Tunisian government is not the IMF. It is crucial to look at the intermediate politics of domestic elites here, especially going into an election year, with divisions within the governing coalitions widening.
Bottom line: there are at least two levels of politics that common narratives on this strike often obscures. Both are crucial to Tunisia's politics this year. And both are likely to determine the outcome of this strike.
The somewhat longer version of this argument is now available here:
