Algeria: Striking pipeline workers face repression

Two union representatives were arrested last week and the local authorities are moving large numbers of riot police into the area.

Submitted by jef costello on August 3, 2007

570 workers have been striking for five weeks now. It seems as though the local authorities want to provoke a confrontation, as well as sending in more police and arresting the two men they have also issued 'inflammatory statements'. According to Mr Aouadi, a member of the union committee "They have even gone as far as to accuse us of vandalising our equipment, which is false"

The dispute began when a union member denounced the loss of a maintenance contract by management and was fired as a result. Workers have demanded his reinstatement, management have refused point blank. Workers have been staging daily sit-ins outside company headquarters since the strike began. The pipeline has remained completely closed during the strike.

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