The four main trade union centers in Morocco, namely the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT), the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), the Democratic Labor Organization (ODT) and the Federation of Democratic Unions (FSD), have decided to launch a national general strike scheduled for Wednesday, February 5. A press conference is planned for tomorrow, Monday February 3, to explain the reasons behind this protest action, in particular the tense climate during discussions on the strike bill in the House of Councilors, which must be submitted to a final vote today. The 24-hour strike, according to the CDT, is a way to protest against what it calls “the despotism of the government” which persists in advancing the strike law despite opposition. The union also denounces the government’s inability to resolve problems linked to rising prices and the cost of living. For its part, the UMT criticizes the management of the government which it describes as “irresponsible”, in particular its public policies deemed unpopular. The union cites the deterioration of workers’ purchasing power and denounces the freezing of social dialogue for two consecutive sessions without explanation, a violation of commitments made between the government, unions and employers. The UMT also rejects the adoption of the bill on the right to strike, which it considers to be a forceful move by the government, which would have acted without taking into account the framework of social dialogue. The union says this law violates Morocco’s constitution, which guarantees this fundamental right, and ignores the concerns expressed by unions.
