Tunisia union calls for nationwide strike on Jan.21

Tunisia's powerful UGTT union on Friday called a nationwide strike for January 21, the first since President Kais Saied seized sweeping powers, to protest at his escalating crackdown on critics and demand wage negotiations.

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The looming walkout could cripple key public sectors and strain a government already strapped for cash, heightening the risk of social unrest amid growing frustration with decaying public services in the North African country.

Saied shut down parliament and began ruling by decree in 2021 in what he called a move to root out rampant corruption and mismanagement, but which the opposition called a coup.

The million-member UGTT warned that the situation was deteriorating and condemned the erosion of civil liberties and Saied’s efforts to silence political parties and democratic debate, vowing to resist.