Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS392
2006-02-23 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:  

ARAB MAGHREB UNION LABOR OFFICIALS PESSIMISTIC

Tags:  PREL KDEM PGOV TS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0392 0541018
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231018Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9866
INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7145
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0765
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8076
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 3936
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000392 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE
DRL/IL - DEMARIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV TS
SUBJECT: ARAB MAGHREB UNION LABOR OFFICIALS PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT REGIONAL COOPERATION

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000392

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE
DRL/IL - DEMARIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV TS
SUBJECT: ARAB MAGHREB UNION LABOR OFFICIALS PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT REGIONAL COOPERATION

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. SUMMARY. (C) During a February 17 meeting, officials of
the Labor Union of Arab Maghreb Workers (USTMA),the labor
entity of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU),expressed pessimism
about the AMU's ability to revitalize itself. Officials said
the recent appointment of a former Tunisian foreign minister
as AMU Secretary General is unlikely to have any impact.
Meanwhile, USTMA continues its limited efforts to foster
regional cooperation on labor issues and seeks to encourage
democratic reform in the Maghreb. The officials also
lamented the weakness of civil society in the region, while
noting labor groups generally have the best organization and
are the most inclusive entities in the region. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) USTMA Assistant Secretary General for the Press
Abdelmajid Sahraoui and Executive Director Abdelhamid Ashour
told Laboff that USTMA's main goals of establishing a Maghreb
Socio-Economic Council and an elected regional parliament
were hampered by general AMU inaction. Noting that regional
leaders had not met since 1995, despite a provision that
requires annual summits, the officials said the Western
Sahara issue is only part of the problem. They also stressed
that the region's leaders see little benefit in regional
cooperation. When asked about the likely impact of new AMU
Secretary General (and former Tunisian presidential advisor

SIPDIS
and foreign minister) Habib Ben Yahia, Sahraoui and Ashour
agreed that the appointment was honorific and not designed to
improve regional cooperation.

3. (C) While general AMU weakness impacts USTMA's activities,
the union is also challenged by administrative problems.
Regional labor cooperation is generally positive, but the
group faces difficulties collecting dues from its national
labor union partners (Tunisia's UGTT, Morocco's UMT,
Mauritania's UTM and Algeria's UGT). Despite this, USTMA is
pursuing programs targeting women and youth, including an
upcoming program with a Norwegian labor organization.
Sahraoui also expressed interest in expanding cooperation
with the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, which has recently
opened a regional office in Algiers. (NOTE: Like Tunisia's
labor movement, USTMA refuses USG funding for its activities
or programs, due to members' objections to USG policies in
the region. END NOTE.)


4. (C) Sahraoui and Ashour strongly criticized the weakness
of Maghreb civil society, particularly the lack of
independent and effective political parties. The men are
both Tunisians, but they were quick to note that the
situation was better in both Morocco and Algeria than
Tunisia. Ashour commented that the ruling Democratic
Constitutional Rally (RCD) is actually weak outside of Tunis
and that it is the Ministry of Interior and other state
entities that ensure rural support for the GOT. Sahraoui
explained that the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT)
is the only inclusive organization in Tunisia, as
nationalists, Baathists, leftists, Islamists and even RCD
party members are active in the Tunisian labor union.


5. (C) COMMENT: These comments provide another perspective
on the limited capacity of the Arab Maghreb Union as a
regional force. While USTMA's problems are in part specific
to their non-governmental base, it is unfortunate that AMU
inaction further constrains political reform in the region.
This is particularly discouraging as USTMA's focus on the
importance of civil society development in thQregion is
another example of how labor can be a key partner in
democratic reform efforts. END COMMENT.
HUDSON