Moroccan Trade Union Embarks on Strike Amidst Controversy

One out of the five leading Moroccan umbrella unions, the Labour democratic confederation (CDT), launched a general strike call on Wednesday causing controversy among other union bodies.

The Labour Democratic Confederation intended to “go it alone” by urging its “troops” since last 3 May to observe a general strike in protest against the “high cost of living” and the “scarce” government offer during the April 2008 “social dialogue”.

Created in 1978, this umbrella Union announced the “definite” withdrawal of its nine representatives from the Moroccan Lower Chamber as a sign of protest chiefly against the “government’s inefficiency during social upheavals”.

Last Tuesday, the country’s four other leading unions called a civil service strike they rated at 80% success while the government alleged about 40%.

These same trade unions said they were “not concerned” by the Wednesday “politics-driven” strike because it was “irrelevant to the Concerted Action Framework” of the Moroccan leading umbrella unions.

The Moroccan executive authority however resolved to proceed with its “social offer” worth 17 billion dirham (about US$2, 5 billion) for pay rise and tax reduction, despite the refusal of unionists which termed it “below” their expectations.

The State budget will disburse additional 37 billion dirham in 2008 to support staple goods, particularly fuels and cereals whereas the initial budget of the “compensation fund” hardly banked on 20 billion dirham.

The CDT has been steadily losing weight since 2002 following it “organic split” with the Socialist popular forces Union (USFP) which joined the government in March 1998.

The other leading trade unions include the Morocco Labour Union (UMT) which was created in 1955 while the country was under colonial administration and the Morocco general workers union (UGTM) set up in 1960 and close to the ruling Istiqlal party.

Source African Press Agency

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