The International Federation of Journalists has announced its support for Tunisian journalists currently on strike at Tunisian state Radio Television. The 150 journalists, cameramen and other technicians have been organising a sit-in since Monday in protest against the failure of management to provide them with proper full contracts in line with Tunisian labour legislation.
"It is unacceptable that journalists, some of whom have been working for the TV for ten years or more, are being refused proper contracts and social security payments," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary on Monday. ‘We fully support the journalists' demands and the efforts of the Syndicate National des Journalistes Tunisiens (SNJT) in this struggle for the basic rights of their members.'
SNJT, which organised on Friday its second Annual General Assembly since its creation in January 2008, has made the improvements of journalists' conditions a priority for its work.
In April, SNJT received an assurance from the minister of information that the long-term problem of irregular staff contracts at the state TV would be resolved. However, since then no action has been taken by the management and the situation has reached crisis point.
According to Tunisian Labour legislation an employer must provide all staff with proper contracts after they have been continuously engaged for four years. Many of the journalists, cameramen and other technicians have been working for the State TV for over ten years without contracts.
''Journalists have suffered for too long when all they want is respect for their basic rights. This week they ran out of patience and we will do what we can to support their cause,' said Neji Bghouri, President of SNJT. ‘Following an intense debate SNJT created a strike support committee and launched a solidarity fund to provide support for its striking members.''
SNJT was created last year following the dissolution of the Association des Journalistes Tunisiens (AJT), specifically so it could also campaign on labour rights of journalists as well as professional issues. Since then, they have been subjected to a series of campaigns attempting to undermine their independence including the withdrawal of the annual state grant that is provided to all trade unions and professional organisations.
