UGTT supports bank strike, warns against escalating social tensions
via Business News8 min read
The national administrative body of the Tunisian General Labor Union UGTT met on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Tunis, focusing on the deterioration of purchasing power, the stagnation of social dialogue, and rising tensions across various sectors. The union expressed full support for the announced strike in the banking sector, protesting the exclusion of banking agents from salary increases planned for 2025. The UGTT views this exclusion as undermining collective bargaining and social dialogue, which it considers essential for preventing tensions and ensuring stable professional relations. The organization also called for salary negotiations in the private sector for 2025, criticizing the government and some employers for failing to honor social commitments. The UGTT highlighted the continuous decline in the purchasing power of employees, retirees, and a large portion of the population, attributing it to rising prices, speculation, and insufficient measures to protect citizens from the cost of living. The union warned that the lack of concrete responses to salary demands could further fuel social discontent. Furthermore, the UGTT criticized the non-application of several sectoral, regional, and collective agreements, and denounced an increase in tensions within public and private companies, citing abusive dismissals, harassment, and targeting of workers and union members. The union also raised concerns about the deteriorating quality of public services, including health, educati
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Videos circulating on social media show a significant increase in jellyfish on Tunisian beaches, leading to concerns about their impact on marine life and the upcoming tourist season. Some reports link this proliferation to the decline of natural predators like tuna and sea turtles. The presence of the Portuguese Man O' War, a venomous marine organism often mistaken for a jellyfish, has also caused alarm among beachgoers. While jellyfish observations are not new in Tunisia, specialists from the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies INSTM have noted their regular appearance. INSTM researchers clarify that the Portuguese Man O' War is not a true jellyfish but a siphonophore, with its presence on Tunisian coasts primarily due to winds and marine currents from the Atlantic. However, scientists attribute the overall increase in jellyfish to marine ecosystem degradation, including overfishing, rising water temperatures, and increasing marine pollution. The decline of fish species due to overfishing reduces predators and competitors for jellyfish, promoting their growth. Sea turtles, which prey on jellyfish, face threats such as accidental capture, habitat destruction, light pollution, and plastic pollution, often mistaking plastic bags for food. Marine pollution, including plastic waste, untreated wastewater, and industrial discharges, disrupts marine habitats, weakens species, and reduces biodiversity, allowing opportunistic species like jellyfish to thrive. This
Must ReadA video depicting the assault of sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia has sparked widespread controversy. The footage shows men entering a residence occupied by migrants, with a visibly distressed, partially undressed pregnant woman pleading with her attackers, while other migrants appear terrified. Individuals can be heard laughing, insulting, and shouting commands like "get them out" in Tunisian dialect. The video's circulation led to outrage online, with many condemning the humiliating acts. However, some publications attempted to discredit the video, claiming it was fabricated to harm Tunisia's image, suggesting it was filmed in Sudan with an added Tunisian soundtrack. These claims were supported by a screenshot of a search result linking the video to a humorous Sudanese content titled "Tamboul Tembelet Belil." A thorough verification of the video, analyzing both visual and audio elements, found no evidence of artificial sound addition; the movements and speech align perfectly. The visual content, showing a crying, shocked pregnant woman and terrified migrants, contradicts any notion of a humorous or festive scene. Furthermore, comparisons confirmed that the video in question is distinct from the Sudanese "Tamboul Tembelet Belil" content. The argument that the video is fake, based on a search result, is a misinterpretation. The verification concludes that the video is not a fabrication, and the images and sound are coherent, depicting a real scene. While the exact date and loc
Must ReadUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, June 4, 2026, inviting him to engage in direct negotiations to end more than four years of war between the two countries. Zelensky stated that the conflict, which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022, can only be resolved through high-level dialogue. He proposed a face-to-face meeting in a neutral country, suggesting Switzerland, Turkey, or certain Arab states as potential venues. The Ukrainian head of state also expressed readiness to accept a complete ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations, viewing it as an essential starting point for a lasting peace agreement. He further proposed a full exchange of prisoners of war and discussions on the return of Ukrainian civilians and children transferred to Russia since the conflict began. In his letter, Zelensky criticized Putin's twenty-six years in power, attributing the war to the Russian president's personal choice. He claimed the conflict is increasingly burdening Russian society, which he said faces inflation, fuel shortages, and growing weariness from human losses and economic consequences. The Ukrainian president warned that his country would continue to fight if Moscow refused the diplomatic path, stating, "Ukraine will continue to fight for its existence," while urging Putin to "end this war" before its consequences become irreversible for both nations. This initiative comes as months of mediation
On June 3, 2026, a Tunisian investigating judge issued four arrest warrants in a baccalaureate exam fraud case, involving a secondary teacher, a university student, and two high school students. Another student involved remains free but is under investigation. Separately, two disturbing videos circulated online showing violence against sub-Saharan migrants, including an alleged attempted rape of a pregnant woman. On June 4, 2026, the Assembly of People's Representatives ARP bureau, chaired by Ibrahim Bouderbala, decided to review requests for lifting parliamentary immunity for several deputies on June 23, 2026, in a closed session. Also on June 4, 2026, the National Administrative Body of the Tunisian General Labour Union UGTT met under the presidency of its Secretary-General, Slaheddine Selmi, to discuss the country's general situation and the union's activities, emphasizing strengthening ties with workers and increasing membership. Finally, the United States celebrated the delivery of 48 HMMWV armored vehicles to the Tunisian army at the El Aouina military base in Tunis, an event attended by US Ambassador Bill Bazzi and Tunisian and American officials, aimed at enhancing Tunisia's operational capabilities and its ability to conduct joint exercises and rapid response missions.